Mercedes Surprises Everyone With CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung V8 Hot RodAutoGuide.comMichael AccardiThu, September 10, 2026 at 10:31 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleMercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungMercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungOriginating as a secret engineering test mule, the model swaps the standard CLE 53's 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six for a modified version of AMG's M177 Evo 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.The result is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung-and it is the second entry in AMG's ultra-exclusive Mythos Series. The model is named for its power output of 646 PS, which translates to 637 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque.Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: All the DetailsMercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: All the DetailsView GalleryAdvertisementAdvertisement26 photosTo maximize track performance and offset the heavier V8 powerplant, AMG stripped roughly 375 pounds of mass from the donor chassis before adding structural reinforcements. The standard 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system was thrown on the junk pile in favor of a rear-wheel-drive layout,Additional weight savings come from carbon-fiber bodywork, polycarbonate rear glass, a lightweight 12-volt starter battery, and a gutted interior that deletes the rear seats, sound deadening, and secondary driver-assist sensors in favor of carbon racing buckets.Overall curb weight drops to 4,177 pounds, making the V8 coupe 66 pounds lighter than a standard CLE 53.Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungMercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungAdvertisementAdvertisementThe heavily massaged AMG M177 EVO 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine makes 637 horsepower and spins a lightweight flat-plane crankshaft that will rev to 7,200 rpm. The 627 lb-ft of torque can mostly be found between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. To keep thermal stress at bay, Affalterbach fitted separate cooling circuits to handle engine oil, charge air, 48-volt electronics, and transmission fluid.The Spezialanfertigung breathes through a Titanium Akrapovič cold-end system engineered for uninhibited flow and a supersized AMG roar. Power runs through a 9-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT with custom rear-drive Launch Control logic paired with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. There are nine selectable slip stages, allowing drivers to meter rear wheelspin, all the way to ESP turned completely off.Straight-line performance figures include a 0–62 mph sprint in 3.9 seconds, a 0–124 mph time of 11.4 seconds, and a 0–186 mph run in 36.2 seconds. The car tops out at 193 mph.Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungMercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungAdvertisementAdvertisementThe CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung rides nearly an inch lower than the CLE 53. Kinematically, it rides on a coilover suspension developed jointly with KW, featuring four-way independent adjustment for high- and low-speed bump and rebound settings.Stopping power comes courtesy of massive AMG Ceramic High-Performance Composite brakes with gold six-piston front calipers clamping 16.5-inch long-fiber discs, fed by dedicated front bumper cooling ducts.Width swells by 2.4 inches at both ends thanks to flared carbon-fiber fenders hugging some gorgeous, forged 20-inch AMG wheels. The staggered setup wraps 305/30 ZR20 front and 335/30 ZR20 rear sticky compound tires-a footprint allegedly evolved from the Mercedes-AMG ONE hypercar.Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungMercedes-AMG CLE 646 SpezialanfertigungAdvertisementAdvertisementUnderneath the Mojave Silver Magno and Obsidian Black Magno two-tone paintwork is a functional aero suite Mercedes says is capable of generating over 550 pounds of downforce at top speed.The Manually Adjustable Front Diffuser switches between "Street" and an extended "Race" position using three quick-release fasteners to channel air beneath the flat underbody to accelerate ground-effect downforce. The front fender vents extract turbulent air pressure from the wheel wells via custom ducting routed past the light assemblies. The center section of the carbon fiber rear wing can be manually adjusted to add downforce at the rear axle.Step inside, and the pursuit of lightness is absolute. AMG tossed out the rear seats, sound insulation, park assist sensors, and multi-mode driver aids. Carbon-fiber door cards, ultra-lightweight racing bucket seats,Hand-built at AMG headquarters in Affalterbach, production is capped at just 30 units worldwide, and all examples were sold before the vehicle's public announcement.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletterhere.