Mercedes-AMG has given the CLE its first V-8 gasoline engine with a limited-production, 637-hp, rear-wheel-drive special that takes the German performance car maker’s luxury performance coupe into a much more exclusive market segment.
Just 30 examples of the two-seater, called the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, will be built worldwide, all individually hand-built at the company's Affalterbach headquarters. And the automaker confirmed in its press release that all were sold before the car's public unveiling — at a price that hasn’t yet been shared.
The CLE 646 is the second model in Mercedes-Benz's ultra-limited Mythos series, following the 250-car Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed based on the SL 63 4Matic+. It starts life as a CLE 53 4Matic+ but is extensively reengineered with a different drivetrain, a widened body, a bespoke suspension and reworked aerodynamics, plus an extensive weight reduction.
The centerpiece is the latest version of Mercedes-AMG's twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine. Featuring a flat-plane crankshaft, it develops 646 PS — thus the name, and the equivalent of 637 hp.
As for the rest of the car's name, the word Spezialanfertigung translates from German as “custom-made.”
The CLE 646 sends its power exclusively to the rear wheels. Mercedes-AMG has removed the CLE53 donor car's 4Matic+ four-wheel-drive system and added an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. A nine-speed automatic AMG Speedshift gearbox handles gear changes.
AMG quotes a 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds, 0-124 mph in 11.4 seconds and 0-186 mph in 36.2 seconds. Top speed is a claimed 193 mph.
The automaker said it cut 375 pounds compared with the CLE 53 donor, through measures including carbon-fiber body panels, a polycarbonate rear screen, the removal of the rear seats, and acoustic insulation, as well as a lighter accessory battery.
The body is 2.4 inches wider, accommodating a wider track and 20-inch forged wheels shod with 305/30 front and 335/30 profile rear tires. A four-way adjustable coil-over suspension replaces the donor car's standard setup, while ceramic brakes use 16.5-inch front and 14.2-inch rear discs.
Adjustable front and rear aerodynamic elements provide separate Street and Race configurations, with the complete package generating more than 551 pounds of downforce at the CLE 646’s top speed.
In keeping with its track-day ambitions, the cabin of the CLE 646 is similarly stripped back. Racing seats replace the standard front seats, while a roll bar occupies the space vacated by the rear bench and carbon-fiber inner door panels further reduce weight. Six-point harnesses are offered as part of an optional Performance Package.
Nine-stage traction control is provided for track driving, with the driver able to switch the stability control off.
