Summary
Mercedes-AMG has announced the hand-built CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a 30-unit performance coupé based on the CLE 53 with a 646 PS twin-turbocharged V8, rear-wheel drive and extensive track-focused modifications.
Contents
- What changed
- How the car is engineered
- What the performance figures show
- Limitations and open questions
- What to watch
- Sources
What changed
Mercedes-AMG announced the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung from Affalterbach on 10 September 2026. It is based on the Mercedes-AMG CLE Coupé, specifically the CLE 53, but is rebuilt by hand at AMG's Affalterbach facility rather than being a conventional high-volume trim.
The most significant change is the powertrain. The car uses AMG's 3.982-litre M177 EVO twin-turbocharged V8, producing 646 PS (475 kW) and 850 Nm between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. A 17 kW/23 PS integrated starter-generator and AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission are also fitted.
Unlike the CLE 53 basis, which uses AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive, the Spezialanfertigung sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. An electronically controlled rear-axle limited-slip differential manages torque distribution between those wheels.
AMG says the conversion reduces weight by around 170 kg, resulting in a DIN running-order mass of 1,895 kg. The reduction comes partly from removing equipment that would normally make the coupé more suitable for everyday use: the rear seats, acoustic insulation, some comfort equipment, parts of the sound system, and all driver-assistance and comfort features, including PARKTRONIC.
The model is limited to 30 units. Mercedes-Benz positions it as the second vehicle in its Mythos series, following the 250-unit Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed. The company says all 30 examples had been sold before the model's world premiere.
How the car is engineered
The CLE 646 is designed as an integrated performance system rather than simply a more powerful engine installed in the standard body.
The body is widened by 60 mm at both the front and rear axles. Carbon-fibre body components and polycarbonate rear side and rear windows contribute to the weight reduction. The car uses 305/30 ZR20 front tyres and 335/30 ZR20 rear tyres, mounted on 11.0J x 20 front and 12.0J x 20 rear wheels.
Its suspension is a bespoke steel coilover system developed by Mercedes-AMG with KW automotive. The independently adjustable four-way dampers separate low- and high-speed bump and rebound settings. In suspension terminology, bump refers to compression as the wheel moves upwards, while rebound refers to the damper's response as the suspension extends. Separating these adjustments allows the response to slower body movements and faster wheel movements to be tuned independently.
The braking system uses ceramic composite discs. At the front are 420 x 40 mm discs with six-piston fixed calipers; the rear uses 360 x 32 mm discs with single-piston sliding calipers.
The aerodynamic package includes an adjustable front diffuser, manually adjustable rear wing, wheel-arch louvers, front flics and underbody aerodynamic elements. The diffuser has Street and Race settings. AMG says the Race setting is exclusively for track use, while the rear wing can be adjusted to increase rear-axle downforce on a circuit.
Mercedes-AMG states that the car produces more than 250 kg of downforce at top speed. Downforce pushes the car towards the road, increasing tyre loading and potentially improving grip at speed, but it generally also increases aerodynamic drag. The announcement does not provide an independent test method or measurements showing how the quoted figure was obtained.
The car also includes AMG TRACTION CONTROL with nine selectable slip levels for the driven rear axle when the vehicle is operating in ESP OFF mode. A rear limited-slip differential can vary the torque distribution between the two driven wheels, helping control wheel spin and traction during acceleration and cornering.
What the performance figures show
Mercedes-AMG lists a 0–100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds, 0–200 km/h in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h.
| Specification | Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.982-litre twin-turbocharged V8, M177 EVO |
| Maximum power | 646 PS (475 kW) |
| Maximum torque | 850 Nm at 2,500–4,500 rpm |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G |
| DIN running-order mass | 1,895 kg |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.9 seconds |
| 0–200 km/h | 11.4 seconds |
| Top speed | 310 km/h |
| Claimed downforce | More than 250 kg at top speed |
| Production | 30 units |
The figures are manufacturer-provided specifications, not results from an independent road or track test. The source supplies no lap time, measured braking distance, cornering data, tyre-temperature information or independent acceleration testing.
The configuration also involves a clear trade-off. Rear-wheel drive, adjustable suspension, a wide rear tyre and selectable rear-axle slip can support a more driver-focused circuit setup. However, the deleted rear seats, insulation, comfort systems and driver assistance make the car materially less practical than a standard CLE-based road vehicle.
Limitations and open questions
The announcement establishes what Mercedes-AMG says it has built and the specifications it gives for the model.
The approximately 170 kg weight reduction is also not independently reconstructable from the supplied information because Mercedes-AMG does not state the exact mass of the starting CLE 53 in the announcement.
The quoted fuel and emissions figures require particular caution. Mercedes-Benz lists combined fuel consumption of 15.8 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions of 359 g/km and CO2 class G, but says these values are provisional. The company states that confirmed values from an officially recognised testing organisation, EC type approval or a certificate of conformity were not yet available.
No purchase price, customer-delivery schedule or detailed market allocation has been announced in the supplied material. The source also does not establish whether the stated pre-premiere sell-out has been independently confirmed.
What to watch
The next significant information will be the final officially certified fuel-consumption and CO2 figures, together with type-approval and conformity documentation.
Independent testing would also clarify how the car performs beyond its specification sheet, particularly its braking, acceleration, aerodynamic balance and track performance. Pricing, delivery timing and market availability remain unannounced, including any possible allocation for India.