Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Is A 646hp Rear-Wheel-Drive MonsterForbesMatthew MacConnell, ContributorUpdatedFri, September 11, 2026 at 8:46 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleDer neue Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.© Mercedes-Benz Group AGMercedes-AMG has taken the CLE Coupé and turned it into a much more serious performance machine, with 646hp, rear-wheel drive, a bespoke coilover suspension and more than 250kg of aerodynamic downforce.The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung started life as an idea among AMG engineers rather than a conventional production programme. A small team built an initial prototype before the project evolved into a heavily reworked version of the CLE.Almost nothing has been left untouched. The bodyshell has been widened and reinforced, the four-wheel-drive system has been removed, weight has been cut by around 170kg and extensive use has been made of carbon fibre and other lightweight materials.646hp from AMG's V8Power comes from AMG's 4.0-litre M177 EVO twin-turbocharged V8, producing 646hp (475kW) and 850Nm of torque between 2,500 and 4,500rpm.AdvertisementAdvertisementA flat-plane crankshaft reduces rotating mass and helps the engine respond more quickly to throttle inputs, while bespoke engine mapping is used to sharpen its character further.Der neue Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.The engine retains three separate cooling circuits, with upgrades made to cope with the demands of sustained high-speed driving and track use. The exhaust system has also been redesigned, using a titanium construction to save weight and a cold-end developed with Akrapovič.Despite the additional performance, the car retains AMG's nine-speed SPEEDSHIFT TCT automatic gearbox. Launch Control has been recalibrated for the rear-drive configuration, helping the CLE 646 accelerate from 0-200km/h in 11.4 seconds. Top speed is 192 mph.Four-wheel drive makes way for rear-wheel driveOne of the biggest changes is underneath the car.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe standard CLE's AMG Performance 4MATIC+ four-wheel-drive system has been removed altogether, with all 646hp now sent to the rear wheels. An electronically controlled limited-slip differential manages the torque between the rear wheels, with the system capable of allowing controlled oversteer when conditions permit.The suspension has also been developed specifically for the car. AMG worked with KW automotive on a four-way adjustable steel coilover setup, allowing separate adjustment of low- and high-speed compression and rebound.That means the chassis can be tuned for everything from road driving to circuit work, with the low-speed settings controlling body movements under braking, acceleration and turn-in, while the high-speed adjustment deals with sharper impacts such as kerbs and bumps.Stopping power comes from AMG's ceramic composite brakes. The front discs measure 420 x 40mm and use six-piston fixed calipers, while 360 x 32mm discs with single-piston floating calipers are fitted at the rear.60mm wider and packed with carbon fibreThe CLE's body has been substantially altered to accommodate the new hardware.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe front and rear tracks have been widened, increasing the overall body width by 60mm at each end. Carbon fibre is used extensively, including for the front wings, bonnet, roof, side skirts, rear apron and diffuser.Der neue Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.The boot lid is reinforced, while the rear wing can be adjusted manually. Polycarbonate replaces the conventional glass in the rear side windows and rear window, while a lighter 12-volt battery contributes to the weight saving.The car sits on 20-inch forged AMG wheels, measuring 11J at the front and 12J at the rear. They are wrapped in huge 305/30 ZR20 front and 335/30 ZR20 rear tyres derived from technology originally developed for the Mercedes-AMG ONE.Ride height is reduced by 22mm at the front and 16mm at the rear.More than 250kg of downforceThe aerodynamic package is designed to make a meaningful difference on circuit rather than simply giving the CLE a more aggressive appearance.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe front diffuser can be manually switched between Street and Race positions. In its Race setting, its inverted-wing profile increases airflow beneath the car and uses the resulting Venturi effect to generate additional front-end downforce.The carbon-fibre rear wing can also be adjusted to alter rear-axle downforce and maintain the desired aerodynamic balance.Der neue Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.The widened front wings feature open louvers to help extract air from the wheel arches, while channels beside the headlights direct airflow through the arches. Additional aerodynamic flicks on the front bumper also help with downforce and brake cooling.Underneath, the car gets a largely enclosed flat floor with longitudinal fins designed to accelerate airflow. Combined with the rest of the package, AMG says the CLE 646 produces more than 250kg of downforce at its top speed.A stripped-back cabinThe same approach continues inside.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe rear seats have been removed, along with acoustic insulation, while the sound system and various comfort features have been simplified. Some driver-assistance systems and drive modes have also been deleted, reducing the number of controls on the AMG Performance steering wheel.The steering wheel itself uses Dinamica microfibre and has a flattened, motorsport-inspired design.Der neue Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung.Lightweight racing bucket seats are fitted as standard, accompanied by an integrated roll-over bar and carbon-fibre door panels. Six-point harnesses are available as part of the optional Performance Package.The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is hand-built in Affalterbach using the CLE 53 as its starting point, placing it firmly in AMG's small-scale, bespoke performance-car tradition.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe result is considerably more extreme than the regular CLE: a lighter, wider, rear-wheel-drive coupé with a 646hp V8, adjustable race-car suspension and enough aerodynamic hardware to make its track ambitions fairly obvious.Limited productionFollowing the Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed, limited to just 250 examples, the CLE 646 is the second exclusive model in the Mercedes-Benz Mythos Series, meaning only 30 examples will be built.This article was originally published on Forbes.com