Mercedes-AMG took its beloved 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 out of its midsize-and-smaller sedans and coupes early in the 2020s, and the company still has not announced any plans to change that any time soon. There is one new exception, as of Thursday, though. Or, more precisely, 30 exceptions.

This is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a mouthful of a name for an ultra-limited version of the mid-sized coupe complete with a 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 engine sending 637 horsepower the rear wheels. AMG calls this a “Mythos Series” car, just like the roofless PureSpeed revealed back in 2024. This one is even more ultra-limited than that 250-example SL variant; just 30 of these will be produced, making it one of the rarest cars to leave Affalterbach since the former aftermarket brand merged with Mercedes-Benz itself.

der neue mercedes amg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse g die angaben sind vorläufig es liegen bislang weder bestätigte werte von einer amtlich anerkannten prüforganisation noch eine egtypgenehmigung noch eine konformitätsbescheinigung mit amtlichen werten vor abweichungen zwischen den angaben und den amtlichen werten sind möglichmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse gthe allnew mercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g the figures are provisional to date, there are no confirmed figures from an officially recognised testing organisation, nor is there an ec typeapproval or a certificate of conformity containing official figures there may be discrepancies between the figures provided and the official figuresmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g

Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing

From the outside, it certainly looks like a direct successor to the CLK63 and C63 Black Series. The massive wing and wide fenders are hallmarks of the Black Series line, and we know that AMG is still using that designation for some cars because it has already teased the next AMG GT to bear that name. Despite the option to put that on the car, AMG has instead opted to give it a long German name that translates to something akin to “special build.”

der neue mercedes amg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse g die angaben sind vorläufig es liegen bislang weder bestätigte werte von einer amtlich anerkannten prüforganisation noch eine egtypgenehmigung noch eine konformitätsbescheinigung mit amtlichen werten vor abweichungen zwischen den angaben und den amtlichen werten sind möglichmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse gthe allnew mercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g the figures are provisional to date, there are no confirmed figures from an officially recognised testing organisation, nor is there an ec typeapproval or a certificate of conformity containing official figures there may be discrepancies between the figures provided and the official figuresmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g

Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing

der neue mercedes amg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse g die angaben sind vorläufig es liegen bislang weder bestätigte werte von einer amtlich anerkannten prüforganisation noch eine egtypgenehmigung noch eine konformitätsbescheinigung mit amtlichen werten vor abweichungen zwischen den angaben und den amtlichen werten sind möglichmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse gthe allnew mercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g the figures are provisional to date, there are no confirmed figures from an officially recognised testing organisation, nor is there an ec typeapproval or a certificate of conformity containing official figures there may be discrepancies between the figures provided and the official figuresmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g

Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing

The Black Series DNA continues underneath that body, with 375 pounds of weight reduction over what the company describes as a “donor vehicle.” The focus on lightness is matched with a similar emphasis on direct connection to the road, accomplished here with a unique steel coilover setup. The choice to send all power to the rear wheels is also a departure from most of what AMG has sold over the past ten years, and a notable change from the inline-6 CLE 53 that serves as the higher-volume AMG variant of this platform.

The weight savings and power increases make the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung a formidable performer on track, where it boasts a 193-mph top speed despite the massive wing. Rear-wheel drive restricts the Spezialanfertigung to a relatively modest 3.9 second sprint from 0-62 miles per houyr, but the car hits 124 mph from a standstill in a more impressive 11.2 seconds.

der neue mercedes amg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse g die angaben sind vorläufig es liegen bislang weder bestätigte werte von einer amtlich anerkannten prüforganisation noch eine egtypgenehmigung noch eine konformitätsbescheinigung mit amtlichen werten vor abweichungen zwischen den angaben und den amtlichen werten sind möglichmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energieverbrauch kombiniert 15,8l100 km co₂emissionen kombiniert 359 gkm co₂klasse gthe allnew mercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g the figures are provisional to date, there are no confirmed figures from an officially recognised testing organisation, nor is there an ec typeapproval or a certificate of conformity containing official figures there may be discrepancies between the figures provided and the official figuresmercedesamg cle 646 spezialanfertigung energy consumption combined 151l100 km combined co₂ emissions 359 gkm co₂ class g

Mercedes-Benz AG – Communications & Marketing

If you want to get your hands on the new CLE variant, you’ll need to get ready to explore the used market. Mercedes-AMG says that the car is already sold out, leaving no opportunity for AMG enthusiasts without an allocation to lay their hands on a new V-8 road car smaller than the SL-Class any time soon.

Headshot of Fred Smith

Fred Smith’s love of cars comes from his fascination with auto racing. Unfortunately, that passion led him to daily drive a high-mileage, first-year Porsche Panamera. He is still thinking about the last lap of the 2011 Indianapolis 500.