Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung Revealed With 637bhp; Limited to 30 Units

The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung gets a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, rear-wheel drive and a nine-speed gearbox, with a top speed of 310km/h.

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a limited-run version of its performance coupe with a 637bhp, twin-turbo V8 and rear-wheel drive. Based on the CLE 53, the new model gets a much wider carbon-fibre body, a stripped-back cabin and chassis upgrades aimed at making it more capable on track. Mercedes-AMG will build only 30 examples, all of which were sold before the reveal. The company has not announced the price yet. The car is part of AMG’s Mythos series, following the PureSpeed.

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Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: Design

The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung is 60mm wider than the CLE 53, giving it a noticeably broader stance. Mercedes-AMG has used carbon fibre for the fenders, bonnet, roof, side sills, rear apron and boot lid. There is also an adjustable rear wing at the back, which forms part of the car’s aerodynamic package. At its maximum speed, AMG says the setup can generate more than 250kg of downforce.

There has been plenty of attention paid to keeping the car light, too. Around 170kg has been removed compared with the donor car, bringing its weight down to 1,895kg. Carbon-fibre panels, polycarbonate rear glass and a smaller 12-volt battery help with the weight reduction. The CLE 646 also gets 20-inch forged wheels and a four-way adjustable coilover setup developed with suspension specialist KW.

The CLE 646 uses carbon-ceramic discs measuring 420mm at the front and 360mm at the rear. Six-piston callipers are fitted at the front, while the rear gets single-piston units. Mercedes-AMG has also added dedicated cooling channels to the front discs, which should help keep braking performance consistent during repeated hard stops.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: Interior

The changes continue inside, where the CLE 646 gets a much simpler cabin than the standard car. The rear seats have been removed along with some of the acoustic insulation. In their place are bucket seats, carbon-fibre door trim and a roll bar. It is a fairly clear indication that AMG was willing to sacrifice some everyday comfort to make this particular CLE more suited to spirited driving.

The equipment list has been trimmed as well. The sound system has been removed, while some driver-assistance features have been deleted or reduced. Buyers who want an even more focused setup can choose the optional Performance Package, which adds a six-point harness. Each car will be hand-assembled at Mercedes-AMG’s Affalterbach facility, starting with a CLE 53 base.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung: Engine

The headline change sits under the bonnet. The CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 from the M177 Evo family, with a flat-plane crankshaft. It produces 637bhp and 850Nm of torque, with peak torque available from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm.

Power goes to the rear wheels through a nine-speed AMG Speedshift transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. This is a notable change from the CLE 53’s all-wheel-drive setup. AMG claims the CLE 646 can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and 0-200km/h in 11.4 seconds, before reaching a claimed top speed of 310km/h.