Mercedes-AMG has finally put a V8 into the CLE, and it has done so in a spectacularly wild fashion. Meet the new AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung. It’s a sports-coupe that has been developed with the racetrack firmly in mind. As a result, it gets a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 636 bhp and 850 Nm, sending power exclusively to the rear wheels. Only 30 examples will be built, and the entire production run was sold out even before its world premiere.
The name Spezialanfertigung roughly translates to ‘custom-made’, which makes sense given how extensively AMG has reworked the CLE. It is also the second model in Mercedes’ Mythos series, following the 250-unit AMG PureSpeed It is based on the existing CLE 53, but very little has been left untouched. AMG has effectively rebuilt the car, adding a heavily modified body, a bespoke suspension, extensive carbonfibre components and a rear-wheel-drive powertrain. The result is a CLE that weighs around 170 kg less than the standard car and has a much more focused character.
At the heart of it is AMG’s 3982 cc M177 Evo V8. It uses a flat-plane crankshaft to reduce rotating mass and improve throttle response and willingness to rev, while producing its peak 850 Nm between 2500 and 4500 rpm. The engine also gets three separate cooling circuits, with the system strengthened for sustained high-load running and track use. An integrated starter-generator contributes up to 20 bhp.
AMG has ditched the CLE 53’s all-wheel-drive system altogether. The CLE 646 is rear-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential managing the power at the back. It uses AMG’s nine-speed Speedshift TCT 9G gearbox and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds, while 0 to 200 kph takes just 11.4 seconds. Top speed is 310 kph.
The chassis has received an equally serious overhaul. AMG worked with KW Automotive to develop a four-way adjustable steel coilover suspension, allowing separate adjustment of high- and low-speed compression and rebound. The car sits 22 mm lower at the front and 16 mm lower at the rear, while the tracks have been widened by 60 mm at both ends. That extra width also gives AMG room for some seriously chunky rubber. The CLE 646 rides on 20-inch forged wheels at all four corners with 305/30 section front and 335/30 section rear tyres. Behind them sit ceramic brakes with 420 mm front discs and six-piston callipers for some serious stopping power.
Visually, the CLE 646 is much more aggressive than the regular car. Its carbonfibre widebody gets vented front wings, a heavily revised front bumper with an enormous air intake, a carbon bonnet with a central cold-air intake and a redesigned rear bumper. The roof, boot lid, diffuser and manually adjustable rear wing are also made from carbonfibre, while the rear side windows and rear windscreen use lightweight polycarbonate. The aerodynamic package is more than just visual theatre. The front diffuser can be adjusted between Street and Race settings, while the rear wing can be manually altered to balance the car on track. AMG says the complete aero package produces more than 250 kg of downforce at maximum speed.
The weight-saving continues inside. The rear seats have been removed, along with acoustic insulation and various comfort features. The cabin gets lightweight racing seats, a roll-over bar, carbonfibre door panels and a simplified AMG steering wheel. A six-point harness is available as part of the optional Performance package. Even the car’s electronic equipment has been pared back. Features such as auto parking and other assistance and comfort systems have been removed in the pursuit of a more direct driving experience. AMG has also fitted a high-performance exhaust system developed with Akrapovic, with titanium used for the cold-end section.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the CLE 646, though, is what it represents for the future. Rumours of a V8-powered CLE had been circulating for months before Mercedes finally confirmed the car, with spy shots showing a much wider, more aggressive coupe being tested at the Nurburgring. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is therefore more than just an ultra-limited collector’s car. It demonstrates what AMG can do with the CLE platform when the brief is performance above almost everything else. And with the V8 now officially in the CLE family, the stage is set for the more widely available CLE 63 that is expected to sit below this 30-car special. For now, though, the CLE 646 is the one to have if you want the ultimate version of Mercedes-AMG’s new coupe — assuming you managed to secure one of the 30 before they disappeared.
