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.
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. The first Mythos car was the AMG PureSpeed, a roofless SL63-based coupe limited to 250 units and priced around $1 million, revealed ahead of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix. 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.
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 193 mph (311 km/h).
Carbon Fibre Body Sheds 375 lbs
Mercedes-AMG claims the CLE 646 Mythos is roughly 375 lbs lighter than a CLE53. 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.
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 allocations had already sold by the time of the public reveal. Mercedes-AMG has not published an official price, but CarBuzz estimates the CLE 646 Mythos at more than $1 million per car — for comparison, a standard CLE53 starts at $78,850.
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 | 193 mph (311 km/h) |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive, electronic limited-slip diff |
| Weight Savings | ~375 lbs lighter than CLE53 (carbon body panels, polycarbonate windows) |
| Brakes | Carbon-ceramic; 16.5in front (6-piston), 14.2in rear (1-piston) |
| Wheels & Tyres | 20in forged; 305/30 front, 335/30 rear |
| Downforce | 550+ lbs at top speed |
| Production | 30 units worldwide, hand-built in Affalterbach — sold out |
| Estimated Price | $1 million+ per unit (unofficial estimate) |
Sources & Verification
Technical figures, production numbers and background verified against the following sources: Car and Driver, GTspirit, CarBuzz, Top Gear, MercedesBlog, and the official Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung page. Performance and production figures are manufacturer-quoted at time of publication.
