Mercedes-AMG has taken the CLE coupe to an entirely different level with the new CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a hand-built performance machine created with one overriding goal: maximum driving dynamics.

Unveiled on September 10, the road-legal coupe is the second model in Mercedes-Benz’s ultra-exclusive Mythos Series. It combines a 646-hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with rear-wheel drive, a heavily revised chassis, extensive carbon-fiber construction and track-focused aerodynamics. Only 30 examples will be built, and Mercedes-AMG says the entire production run had already sold out before the car made its world premiere.

The name Spezialanfertigung roughly translates to “custom-made,” and that description is particularly appropriate here. Rather than simply adding a more powerful engine and a few cosmetic upgrades to the CLE, AMG says the project effectively reimagines the car as a complete performance system.

A 646-hp V8 at the heart of the CLE

The biggest headline is under the hood. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung uses an extensively enhanced version of AMG’s M177 EVO 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine, producing 646 hp (475 kW) and 850 Nm of torque.

The engine’s peak torque is available from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm, while maximum power arrives between 6,000 and 6,250 rpm. A flat-plane crankshaft reduces rotating mass and helps the V8 rev more quickly, while dedicated engine mapping is designed to deliver a sharper throttle response.

AMG has also paid considerable attention to thermal management. The V8 uses three separate cooling circuits, including dedicated low-temperature circuits for charge-air and transmission-oil cooling as well as the car’s 48-volt components. Those systems have been enhanced specifically for the demanding operating conditions expected from a car that can spend serious time on a racetrack.

The exhaust system gets its own bespoke treatment, with increased flow capacity and a sound profile designed to emphasize the V8’s character. AMG developed the cold-end section in cooperation with Akrapovič, while titanium components help reduce weight.

Power is sent through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission.

AMG trades all-wheel drive for rear-wheel drive

One of the most significant changes is also one of the most old-school. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung abandons the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system used by its donor vehicle and sends power exclusively to the rear wheels.

That decision isn’t simply about saving weight. AMG says the switch fundamentally changes the car’s dynamic character, giving engineers a setup better suited to the direct and engaging driving experience they were targeting.

An electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential manages torque distribution between the rear wheels. Under suitable conditions, it can also support controlled drifting. The Launch Control system has been specifically calibrated for the rear-wheel-drive configuration.

The result is a claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, while 0-124 mph takes 11.4 seconds. Top speed is rated at 193 mph (310 km/h). AMG also quotes a 0-186 mph time of 36.2 seconds in Track mode and 36.8 seconds in Street mode.

The CLE gets a serious weight-loss program

AMG didn’t create the CLE 646 by simply bolting a V8 into the existing car. The body structure has been substantially modified, reinforced and widened, while the car loses around 170 kilograms compared with the donor vehicle.

The coupe is 60 millimeters wider at both the front and rear axles, giving it a much more aggressive stance while providing room for wider wheels and tires.

Carbon fiber is used extensively throughout the body. The front fenders, front apron, side sill panels, hood, roof, rear apron, diffuser, trunk lid and rear wing all incorporate carbon-fiber components. The rear side windows and rear window are made from polycarbonate, while a lighter 12-volt starter battery contributes to the weight reduction.

The CLE 646 rides on exclusive AMG Performance forged wheels measuring 20 inches at the front and rear. They are wrapped in 305/30 ZR20 front tires and enormous 335/30 ZR20 rear tires derived from technology originally developed for the Mercedes-AMG ONE.

The car also sits lower than the standard CLE, with the front axle lowered by 22mm and the rear by 16mm.

Mercedes-AMG finishes the exterior in a distinctive two-tone combination: Mojave Silver Magno at the front and Obsidian Black Magno from the B-pillars rearward.

A chassis built for the track

The suspension has been comprehensively reworked. The CLE 646 uses a specially developed steel coilover setup with four-way adjustable dampers, allowing rebound and compression characteristics to be independently configured for different driving conditions.

That makes the suspension adjustable for road use as well as more demanding circuit work.

Stopping power comes from AMG’s Ceramic High-Performance Composite Braking System. Beyond reducing weight and unsprung mass, the system is designed to maintain consistent performance under the heavy loads generated during track driving. The redesigned brake-cooling system uses large front air intakes and dedicated airflow management to improve heat dissipation.

The body structure has also been strengthened, with additional reinforcements and an integrated rollover bar increasing torsional rigidity. AMG says the added rigidity helps improve precision, stability and driver feedback when the car is pushed hard.

The aerodynamics are more than just for show

The CLE 646’s widebody appearance is backed by a serious aerodynamic package.

Its front diffuser can be manually adjusted between Street and Race positions. In Race mode, the diffuser creates an inverted-wing profile underneath the front of the car, accelerating airflow and generating a Venturi effect to increase front-axle downforce.

The carbon-fiber rear wing can also be manually adjusted to increase rear-axle downforce and achieve the desired aerodynamic balance on a racetrack.

Open louvers in the widened front fenders help ventilate the wheel wells, while channels beside the headlights direct airflow through the wheel arches and out through the louvers. Additional aerodynamic elements on the front apron also help increase downforce while improving brake cooling.

AMG says the complete aerodynamic package generates more than 250 kilograms of downforce at top speed.

The car also gets a dedicated AMG TRACTION CONTROL system for closed-circuit driving. With ESP switched off, drivers can select one of nine levels of rear-axle wheel slip, allowing the system to be tailored to tire temperatures and the driver’s preferred proximity to the handling limit.

The interior loses comfort in favor of performance

Inside, AMG has taken the same uncompromising approach.

The rear seats are gone, along with acoustic insulation and several comfort features. The sound system has been simplified, while some drive modes and assistance systems have been removed. Even the number of controls on the AMG Performance steering wheel has been reduced.

In their place are ultra-lightweight racing bucket seats with pronounced side bolstering, lightweight carbon-fiber door panels and an integrated rollover bar. The steering wheel uses DINAMICA microfiber and a flattened motorsport-inspired design.

A six-point harness is available as part of the optional Performance Package.

The result is a cabin that makes the CLE 646 feel much closer to a road-legal track machine than a luxury grand tourer.

Just 30 will be built — and they’re already gone

The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is the second model in Mercedes-Benz’s Mythos Series, following the 250-unit Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed.

Where the PureSpeed went for an open two-seat design without a roof or windshield, the CLE 646 takes a more conventional coupe shape and pushes it toward extreme track-focused performance.

Each example is hand-built at AMG’s headquarters in Affalterbach using a CLE 53 platform. AMG describes the process as a comprehensive rebuild rather than a conventional special edition, continuing the company’s tradition of low-volume manufactory projects.

With just 30 cars planned worldwide, the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung was always going to be exceptionally rare. The fact that all 30 had already been sold before its world premiere makes the car even more of a collector’s piece.

For Mercedes-AMG, though, the CLE 646 is about more than exclusivity. It represents a deliberately irrational performance project: a 646-hp V8, rear-wheel drive, extensive carbon fiber, adjustable aerodynamics and a stripped-down interior, all wrapped in a hand-built widebody coupe.

In an era when performance cars are increasingly shaped by electrification, efficiency and everyday usability, the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is a remarkably unapologetic celebration of AMG’s performance heritage.