Mercedes-Benz Cle53 vs Rolls-Royce Spectre (bev)

What's the difference?

You’re looking at what Mercedes-Benz dubs “The AMG for all occasions”, the CLE 53.

Now, in case you haven’t been paying attention, the CLE replaces both the previous C-Class and E-Class coupes, so we’re talking about a relatively practical two-door four-seater here.

So, 53? Not the full-fat 63 flagship, then (that’s coming eventually), but something that comes close to the slightly more-powerful (and a bit more expensive) Audi RS5 and BMW M4 range-topping alternatives.

Like Goldilocks’ preferred porridge, this particular flavour of coupe is meant to leave well-heeled enthusiasts not too hot or too bothered, meaning it’s been engineered to be refreshingly refined as well as rousingly rapid.

Is the AMG CLE 53 just right, then? Time to find out.

Ask any opinionated car enthusiast why it is that they hate electric cars, and you’re going to hear the same word revving them up - “noise”.

Sure, EVs might be fast, and even the most old-world-loving petrol head (are we going to have to come up with a new term, soon? Power crazed? Amp-head? Copper top?) will grant you that they can be fun to drive, but the argument is that you just can’t love a car as much if it doesn’t make shouty sounds.

But there is one bunch of well-heeled car lovers who will demur on this topic, and for whom the idea of switching a big, stupidly powerful V12 engine for whispering electric motors seems to be no issue at all - Rolls-Royce fans.

They have, allegedly, been knocking down the doors at Goodwood, demanding that Rolls build them an EV, and finally it has arrived, in the stunning shape of the Spectre, and the orders are pouring in. 

We flew to the Napa Valley in California to try it out.