Mercedes‑AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung – 646 PS 4.0L biturbo V8; chassis, handling upgrades; just 30 units

Mercedes-Benz has revealed the second model in its Mythos series of ultra-exclusive, limited-production cars following the 250-unit Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed that made its debut in December 2024.

What you’re looking at here is the Mercedes‑AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, which is rarer still with just 30 units to be offered. Based on the existing CLE53 4Matic+ Coupe – this was launched in Malaysia last September – the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung offers even greater performance and, to our eyes, serves as an early look at a facelift for the CLE. In case you’re curious, we ran ‘Spezialanfertigung’ through a translator and it means ‘custom made’ in German.

It has been rumoured that the Mercedes-AMG will bring back the V8 for future models, with the CLE63 tipped to be one of the recipients. There’s no CLE63 yet but the supposed plan is well and truly in motion, as the CLE 646 (we’re keeping the name short from here on) is powered by the M177 Evo, which is an enhanced version of the 4.0 litre biturbo V8 engine that was synonymous with true AMG cars over the past decade.

Producing 646 PS (637 hp or 475 kW) from 6,000 to 6,250 rpm and 850 Nm of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm, the M177 Evo with its flat-plane crankshaft is significantly more powerful than the CLE53 that offers 449 PS (443 hp or 330 kW) and 600 Nm. The CLE 646’s engine gets three separate cooling circuits to keep the thermals in check and is mated to the stacked exhaust system developed in cooperation with Akrapovic using plenty of titanium to keep the weight down.

For a brief look back, the non-Evo variant of the M177 had a cross-plane crankshaft, with its highest outputs being applied to the GT63S 4-Door Coupe (the one that isn’t an EV) that packed 639 PS (630 hp or 470 kW) and 900 Nm.

Like with the CLE53, there’s a 48-volt mild hybrid system with an integrated starter generator (ISG) that provides a small boost of 23 PS (23 hp or 17 kW) of power and 205 Nm, while also supporting recuperation, load point shifting, cruising and a much smoother start-stop function.

Different from the CLE53 is the drivetrain, as the CLE 646 ditches the all-wheel drive system to send drive exclusively to the rear wheels via a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic transmission. The company states a 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds, a 0-200 km/h time of 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h.

To make sure there’s handling to go along with the grunt, the car gets steel coilover suspension developed together with KW Automotive. This comes with four-way adjustable dampers with independently configurable low-speed and high-speed rebound and compression settings.

An AMG Ceramic High-Performance Composite Braking System is also standard, with the front having 420 mm rotors and six-piston fixed callipers, while the rear is fitted with 360 mm rotors and single-piston floating callipers. The body structure also gets additional reinforcements in various locations along with an integrated rollover bar for better rigidity, the latter resulting in the deletion of the rear seats and acoustic insulation materials.

The list continues with a 22 mm lower ride height at the front and 16 mm at the rear compared to the CLE53, while the 20-inch forged wheels get staggered tyres sizes (305/30R20 front, 335/30R20 rear). The tyres themselves are based on a further development of technology originally created for the Mercedes‑AMG One and are exclusive to the CLE 646. The brand’s nine-stage AMG Traction Control system is also here for driver to choose the amount of wheel slip allowed.

As for the looks, the tristar-themed exterior lights are new for the CLE and could be introduced to more conventional variants as part of a facelift. Specific to the CLE 646 is its wider body thanks to an extensively modified shell serving to increase structural rigidity.

The company says its creation is 60 mm wider front and rear than a CLE53, with carbon-fibre being used in many areas. These include the vented front fenders, the very aggressive front apron with large cooling intakes and an adjustable diffuser, the side sills, the bonnet with a prominent scoop, the roof and rear bumper with an integrated diffuser.

Even the reinforced boot lid with trapezoidal supports for the manually adjustable rear wing is made of the lightweight material. To tip the scales less, the rear side windows and rear window are made from polycarbonate, while a lighter 12-volt starter battery is used.

If the bodywork wasn’t shouty enough, the front section of the car is finished in Mojave Silver Magno, while from the B‑pillar rearwards is Obsidian Black Magno. AMG crests on the driver’s and passenger’s doors are another notable cue, as is the ‘V8’ badge on the fender vents.

Inside, you’ll find carbon-fibre door panels, ultra-lightweight bucket seats and a revised AMG Performance steering wheel that has less controls because of fewer drive modes and assistance systems, including Parktronic. Those six-point harnesses are an optional extra, but it shouldn’t be an issue for those who can afford whatever amount Mercedes-Benz plans to charge for the car.

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