Mercedes-AMG has revealed the CLE 646 Mythos, officially named the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a hand-built special edition limited to 30 units worldwide. It is the second model in the Mercedes-Benz Mythos series, following the SL63-based AMG PureSpeed, and is completely hand-assembled at AMG headquarters in Affalterbach.
Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Price
Mercedes-AMG has not published an official price for the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, and probably never will. The best published estimate comes from Top Gear UK, which puts the car at £600,000–800,000 after driving it; US outlets report a rumoured figure of about $1 million. All 30 cars were sold before the world premiere in September 2026, so the car was never offered through normal dealer order books. For reference, the CLE53 the car is based on starts at $78,850 in the US, so even the low estimate is several times the price of the donor model.
Mercedes has not said how buyers were chosen; the Mythos programme was announced in 2022 as a series of cars “made available exclusively to the most dedicated enthusiasts and collectors of Mercedes-Benz.” The first Mythos car, the AMG PureSpeed, was built in 250 units and reported by Autocar at £664,000 before local taxes. Because the CLE 646 run is sold out, any CLE 646 reaching the open market will be a resale, and comparable Mythos-tier cars have traded above their original allocation price — the SL65 and SLS AMG Black Series have followed the same trajectory into seven-figure collector territory. Full technical data is in the specification table further down.
Second Car in the Mercedes-Benz Mythos Series
The Mythos program is Mercedes-Benz's platform for extremely limited, high-performance special editions built in tiny numbers away from the regular AMG lineup — a step beyond even the hardcore AMG Black Series models, which were still sold through ordinary dealer channels. The first Mythos car was the AMG PureSpeed, a roofless, windscreen-free SL-based speedster limited to 250 units, shown as a concept at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix and revealed in production form at Abu Dhabi in December 2024. The CLE 646 Mythos is the second entry in the series, cut down to just 30 examples and built on the CLE53 platform rather than the SL.
Every Mercedes Mythos Model So Far
| Mythos model | 1. AMG PureSpeed | 2. AMG CLE 646 |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Open two-seat speedster, no roof or windscreen | Two-seat coupe, no rear seats |
| Base car | AMG SL 63 | AMG CLE 53 |
| Revealed | December 2024 (concept May 2024) | September 2026 |
| Engine | 4.0 V8 biturbo | 4.0 V8 biturbo, flat-plane crank |
| Power / torque | 585 PS / 800 Nm | 646 PS / 850 Nm |
| Drive | All-wheel drive | Rear-wheel drive |
| 0–100 km/h | 3.6 s | 3.9 s |
| Top speed | 315 km/h | 310 km/h |
| Kerb weight | 1,970 kg (Autocar) | 1,895 kg |
| Units | 250 | 30 |
| Price | £664,000 before taxes (Autocar, reported) | Not published; £600k–800k (Top Gear estimate) |
No third Mythos model has been officially confirmed yet. We will add it to this table when Mercedes reveals it.
Flat-Plane V8 — 646 PS Gives the Car Its Name
Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft instead of AMG's usual cross-plane design, reducing rotating mass and sharpening throttle response. Output is 646 PS (637 hp) and 850 N·m of torque — the metric horsepower figure is where the car's name comes from. The engine uses three separate cooling circuits and exhales through an Akrapovič-developed titanium exhaust system.
Rear-Wheel Drive Only — a Break From the CLE53
Unlike the all-wheel-drive CLE53 it is derived from, the CLE 646 Mythos sends all of its power to the rear wheels only, through a 9-speed automatic transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential. Mercedes-AMG quotes 0–62 mph in 3.9 seconds, 0–124 mph in 11.4 seconds, and a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph) — numbers that stay short of the F1-derived Mercedes-AMG ONE halo car, but come from a front-engined coupe with no hybrid assistance at all.
Carbon Fibre Body Sheds 375 lbs
Mercedes-AMG claims the CLE 646 Mythos is roughly 170 kg (375 lbs) lighter than the production car, for a DIN kerb weight of 1,895 kg. The body is 1,987 mm wide, 60 mm more than standard, and sits 22 mm lower at the front and 16 mm lower at the rear. Weight comes out through carbon fibre front fenders, front end, side sills, hood, roof, rear bumper and door panels, plus polycarbonate rear and rear-side windows. Inside, the rear seats, acoustic insulation and part of the standard sound system are removed. Suspension is a steel-sprung coilover setup with 4-way adjustable dampers, independently tunable for low- and high-speed rebound and compression. Bodywork adds a front splitter, an enlarged hood vent, a rear diffuser and a fixed, manually adjustable rear wing, together producing more than 550 lbs of downforce at top speed.
Interior — Racing Buckets, No Rear Seats
The cabin is built around racing bucket seats; an optional Performance package adds 6-point harnesses and carbon fibre door panels. Mercedes-AMG has also reduced the number of available drive modes and simplified the steering wheel controls, stripping out convenience features that would add weight or distract from the driving experience.
CLE 646 vs Mustang GTD, 911 GT3 and BMW M4 CSL
The first drives have put the CLE 646 in a small group of road-legal track coupes, and the comparisons are not all flattering:
- Ford Mustang GTD: the American rival has more power and torque (815 hp, 900 Nm) for a reported price of around $327,000. Top Gear UK expects the Mercedes to lap the Nürburgring in about 7:05, against the GTD’s 6:40.8.
- Porsche 911 GT3 / GT3 RS: Top Gear Philippines calls them the CLE 646’s most direct rivals, and notes the Mercedes is more than 400 kg heavier than a GT3.
- BMW M4 CSL: about 100 bhp down on the CLE 646 and built in 1,000 units at £128,820 — a fraction of the Mercedes’ estimated price.
What the CLE 646 offers instead is exclusivity and a return to a formula AMG fans have asked for since the current C63 switched to a four-cylinder hybrid: a big V8 driving only the rear wheels. Top Gear UK headlined its first drive with the verdict that the car “should be called a Black Series” and scored it 8/10, while questioning whether it is worth the estimated price.
Production — 30 Units, Already Sold Out
Mercedes-AMG will build just 30 examples worldwide, each completely hand-assembled at AMG headquarters in Affalterbach. All 30 cars were sold before the world premiere. Mercedes has not published a delivery schedule, and Top Gear reports that the car cannot be sold in the US. There is no official price: Top Gear UK estimates £600,000–800,000, while CarBuzz reported a figure of more than $1 million per car.
Is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 for Sale?
Not new. All 30 cars were allocated and sold before the world premiere, and Mercedes never opened a public order book. Mercedes has not published a delivery schedule, and Top Gear reports the car cannot be sold in the US, so there is no American route to a new one either.
That leaves the resale market. As of October 3, 2026 we have not found a CLE 646 listed for sale by a dealer or auction house; the first chance is likely to come once customer cars are delivered and an owner decides to sell. Expect any listing to be priced above the original allocation: the estimate for a new car is already £600,000–800,000 (about $1 million), and earlier limited AMG models such as the Black Series cars have traded well above their list prices. If you see one advertised, ask for the build plate number (1 of 30) and proof of the original Mercedes-AMG allocation.
Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos Full Specification Table
| Specification | Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8, flat-plane crankshaft, 3 cooling circuits |
| Peak Power | 646 PS (637 hp) |
| Peak Torque | 850 N·m (627 lb-ft) |
| 0–62 mph | 3.9 seconds |
| 0–124 mph | 11.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 310 km/h (193 mph) |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, electronic limited-slip diff |
| Kerb Weight (DIN) | 1,895 kg (4,178 lb), ~170 kg lighter than the production car |
| Width / Wheelbase | 1,987 mm / 2,875 mm |
| Brakes | Carbon-ceramic; 16.5in front (6-piston), 14.2in rear (1-piston) |
| Wheels & Tyres | 20in forged; 11.0J with 305/30 ZR20 front, 12.0J with 335/30 ZR20 rear |
| Downforce | 550+ lbs at top speed |
| Production | 30 units worldwide, hand-built in Affalterbach — sold out |
| Estimated Price | Not published; £600,000–800,000 (Top Gear UK estimate), ~$1 million (reported rumour) |
Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Video Review — Exterior, Interior and V8 Sound
The walk-around below documents the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung in static presentation: the carbon-fibre bonnet and front wings, the fixed rear wing, the quad exhaust outlets and the Mythos-specific badging, followed by the cabin with its carbon bucket seats and the deleted rear bench. The final segment records the cold start and the exhaust note of the 4.0-litre flat-plane-crankshaft V8 — the acoustic signature is the clearest difference between this engine and the cross-plane M177 used in the wider AMG range.
Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos?
The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos, officially named the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, is a hand-built special edition limited to 30 cars worldwide. It is the second model in the Mercedes-Benz Mythos series after the SL63-based AMG PureSpeed, and every example is assembled by hand at AMG headquarters in Affalterbach on the CLE53 platform.
How many Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos will be built?
Mercedes-AMG will build exactly 30 examples worldwide, each hand-assembled in Affalterbach and fitted with an individually numbered production plate. All 30 cars were sold before the world premiere in September 2026, and the car was never offered through normal dealer order books.
How much does the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos cost?
Mercedes-AMG has not published an official price. Top Gear UK estimates £600,000–800,000 per car, and US outlets report a rumoured figure of about $1 million. All 30 cars were sold before the reveal, so any future sale will be a private resale.
What engine does the CLE 646 Mythos have and how much power does it make?
It uses a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft instead of AMG's usual cross-plane design, which reduces rotating mass and sharpens throttle response. Output is 646 PS (637 hp) and 850 N·m of torque, and the engine runs three separate cooling circuits with an Akrapovič-developed titanium exhaust system.
How fast is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Mythos?
Mercedes-AMG quotes 0–62 mph in 3.9 seconds, 0–124 mph in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph). Unlike the all-wheel-drive CLE53, the CLE 646 drives the rear wheels only, through a 9-speed automatic and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential.
What is the Mercedes Mythos series?
Mythos is Mercedes-Benz’s series of collector cars built in strictly limited numbers, announced in 2022. The first model was the AMG PureSpeed, an open SL-based speedster without roof or windscreen, built in 250 units and revealed in December 2024. The CLE 646 is the second; no third model has been confirmed.
Who can buy a CLE 646 Mythos?
No one new: all 30 cars were sold before the world premiere, and Mercedes has not disclosed how buyers were selected. Mythos cars are offered to dedicated Mercedes-Benz collectors rather than through dealer order books, so the only way to get one now is a private resale.
How does the CLE 646 Mythos compare to the AMG PureSpeed?
The PureSpeed was the first Mythos model: an open SL-based speedster with 585 PS, all-wheel drive and 250 units, reported at £664,000 before taxes. The CLE 646 is far rarer at 30 cars, is a closed rear-wheel-drive coupe, and has a 646 PS flat-plane-crank V8 and a kerb weight of 1,895 kg.
Is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 for sale?
Not new: all 30 cars were sold before the world premiere and there was no public order book, and Top Gear reports it cannot be sold in the US. As of October 2026 no CLE 646 has been publicly listed for resale; when one appears, expect a price above the £600,000–800,000 estimate for a new car.
Sources & Verification
Technical figures, production numbers and background verified against the following sources: Car and Driver, GTspirit, CarBuzz, Top Gear, MercedesBlog, the official Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung page, the Mercedes-Benz media release, Top Gear UK first drive, Top Gear Philippines, Carscoops, Autocar (PureSpeed) and the 2022 Mythos announcement. Performance and production figures are manufacturer-quoted at time of publication.
For the earlier chapter of AMG forced induction, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition used a 650 hp supercharged 5.4-litre AMG V8 and reached 337 km/h, with only 150 coupes built. It is documented alongside other collector references in the Legendary Cars archive.
