The Magic of Open-Top Driving
On the road in the Ahr valley with the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet
We're in the car shortly before seven. We have arranged to meet up for a short Sunday morning drive in the Ahr valley in a convertible. And when arranged that date, we had imagined things a little differently. Not with hazy weather and temperatures more suited to April than July. The only thing that gives us hope is that the roads are no longer completely wet with rain and that the blue sky occasionally flashes through the thick grey clouds.
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A CLE 200 4MATIC is the convertible of choice for this short drive. We settle into the low-slung sports seats and turn on the seat heating. Only then do we switch the 9G-TRONIC to D and set off. It takes us about twenty minutes to reach the Ahr valley. We leave the red soft top up for the time being, especially as we have to drive a short stretch on the motorway — and we're still absolute novices when it comes to driving a convertible.
Where usually the paths of hikers, cyclists, motorcyclists and campers would cross, there is not a soul to be seen on this Sunday morning. The silence is blissful.
At the top of the vineyards of Dernau, we park the car at a vantage point in a long bend. A few years ago, this place was voted the ‘most beautiful wine view’ in the Ahr valley. It's easy to see why. For us, it's one of those places that we simply drive to when we want to get away from it all and enjoy the view of nature.
Where usually the paths of hikers, cyclists, motorcyclists and campers would cross, there is not a soul to be seen on this Sunday morning. The silence is blissful.
We flick the switch in the centre console. It's a bit of magic when the top disappears behind the rear seats within 20 seconds. Almost silently, so nothing interferes with our blissful moment of silence.
A little light shines through the clouds over the Ahr valley. We bring the cabriolet into position and take out our camera. After all, we promised to bring back a few pictures of our drive. A drop top, as they would say in the USA, only really looks good when the roof is down. So we flick the switch in the centre console. It's a bit of magic when the top disappears behind the rear seats within 20 seconds. Almost silently, so nothing interferes with our blissful moment of silence. Into view comes the expressive leather interior in "power red". In combination with the convertible's black paintwork, it is reminiscent of sports cars from times long past.
We shoot our photos to capture the best angles of the four-seater. The long, stretched shape with the large wheelbase combines sporty and elegant features in every perspective. Details such as the narrow, organic-looking headlights, the rear lights connected by a dark red reflector strip or the fine chrome frame around the windscreen show that this vehicle was designed with passion. Mercedes-Benz has achieved a great success with the design of the CLE Cabriolet. This makes the photography all the more fun.
If we were going to close the roof again to continue our drive, we might as well have taken the beautiful CLE Coupé in the first place. Top-up driving is not the idea today.
However, the viewpoint over Dernau is not the only place where we want to take photos. And thus we soon get back behind the wheel, close the doors and the seatbelt butler hands us our seatbelts. The sun still hasn't fully broken through and the driver's display tells us that it's only 14.5 degrees. We're not dressed for the weather either, as all forecasts had promised us warmer temperatures. But if we were going to close the roof again to continue our drive, we might as well have taken the beautiful CLE Coupé in the first place. Top-up driving is not the idea today. We switch on the seat heating again and activate the AIRSCARF. Warm air immediately flows from the fan of the comfortable and attractive to look at sports seats onto the back of the neck. Quite agreeable. We also press the button for the AIRCAP and the rear windscreen so that the cold air doesn't blow quite so wildly over our heads. The only thing we leave down are the windows. That’s the only way in a convertible.
We begin our descent into the valley. Although we see the CLE 200 4MATIC Cabriolet as more of a relaxed cruiser, the winding roads from the hill down into the valley show that the vehicle has a capable set-up. Our country road journey takes us through the villages of the Ahr valley. The sun breaks through the clouds more and more and reflects beautifully on the vines. The area is not unknown to us, part of our roots, but we have rarely noticed it so consciously. The convertible was certainly invented for moments like this and we suddenly realise why there are so many people who swear by open-top cars. We wouldn't want to drive this route in any other vehicle in this very moment.
The English verb apricate describes the feeling of enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on your skin. And that's exactly what we’re feeling right now.
The people who are now sporadically coming the other way in their cars or even on their bikes bike give us questioning looks. ‘In these temperatures?’ they must be thinking. The English verb apricate describes the feeling of enjoying the warmth of the sunshine on your skin. And that's exactly what we’re feeling right now. So much so, in fact, that we want to shout to the driver of the old BMW convertible we come across to open the top so that he doesn't miss this wonderful feeling. This moment — the wind in our hair, the sun's rays on our skin, the feeling of freedom and the connection to our surroundings — is what makes driving a convertible so special. It's more than just getting around; it's an experience that stays with us forever.
Again and again, we stop in front of red traffic lights during our little trip. Infrastructure being rebuilt. The towns are still scarred by the devastating flood disaster that occurred three years ago. Construction machinery, containers and materials characterise the towns and streetscape. But there are two things that make us feel positive: If you look at the licence plates of the other vehicles, you can see that tourism seems to be on the up again. And: some of the construction machines don't even stand still on a Sunday. The reconstruction is being pursued rather tirelessly.
It goes without saying that we don't take the shortest route to the motorway. And certainly also that we leave the top down this time.
We set off in the direction of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. In search of a point from which we can look out over the vineyards and the town, we drive up a path that winds its way through the forest in tight bends. The rustling of the trees is immediately audible. We take a few last photos before heading back home. It goes without saying that we don't take the shortest route to the motorway. And certainly also that we leave the top down this time.
Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 4MATIC Cabriolet shot for KBM Motorfahrzeuge GmbH & Co. KG in July 2024.
Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabriolet | Energieverbrauch kombiniert: 9,8–4,9 l/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 223–128 g/km | CO₂-Klassen: G–D
Mercedes-Benz CLE 200 4MATIC Cabriolet | Energieverbrauch kombiniert: 7,6–6,9 l/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 172–157 g/km | CO₂-Klassen: F–E
Die angegebenen Werte wurden nach dem vorgeschriebenen Messverfahren WLTP (Worldwide harmonised Light-duty vehicles Test Procedures) ermittelt. Der Kraftstoffverbrauch und der CO₂-Ausstoß eines Pkw sind nicht nur von der effizienten Ausnutzung des Kraftstoffs durch den Pkw, sondern auch vom Fahrstil und anderen nichttechnischen Faktoren abhängig.
August 2024