Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 revives the V8 coupe but Australia misses out

Key takeaways

• 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 makes 475kW from a twin-turbo V8
• Just 250 will be built, with only 30 road-legal
• No Australian allocation, but a volume AMG CLE63 is coming

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, a hand-built limited edition that puts a twin-turbo V8 back into the coupe that took over from the C63.

It is the second car in the Mercedes-Benz Mythos range after the windscreen-free AMG PureSpeed, and Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed there are no plans to offer it to local buyers.

2027 Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 specs and performance

That 475kW figure is where the name comes from, since it converts to 646 horsepower. It also makes this the most potent version yet of AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, comfortably clear of the 330kW six-cylinder CLE53 on which it is based.

Drive goes to the rear wheels only through an electronic limited-slip differential. Dropping all-wheel drive is a big part of the 170kg the 646 saves over the CLE53, though at 1895kg it is still no featherweight.

Track hardware and a 60mm wider body

Each car starts as a CLE53 before being stripped and rebuilt by hand at Affalterbach. The body ends up 60mm wider at both ends, 22mm lower at the front axle and 16mm lower at the rear.

Underneath sit KW steel coilovers with four-way adjustable dampers, 420mm six-piston front and 360mm rear carbon-ceramic brakes, and 20-inch forged wheels on 305-section front and 335-section rear track tyres.

Standard kit includes:

• Akrapovič titanium exhaust
• Manually adjustable rear wing and front aero strakes
• Integrated roll cage and carbon-fibre door panels
• Racing bucket seats, with six-point harnesses optional
• Nine-stage traction control

Rear seats, the stereo, the automatic parking system and a chunk of the safety tech are all gone. The two-tone paint is fixed, with Mojave Silver Magno up front and Obsidian Black from the B-pillar back.

Is the 646 coming to Australia?

No. Mercedes-Benz Australia has ruled it out and the cost of engineering a 30-car road-legal run for right-hand drive makes a local allocation a stretch.

Pricing has not been confirmed anywhere. The first Mythos model was reportedly priced from €922,000, or roughly $1.6 million, so a seven-figure sticker is the expectation.

The 646 is already sold out and was never coming here anyway. The car worth waiting for is the CLE63, and the real question is how much of this hardware survives the trip to a showroom.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the 2027 Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 cost?

Mercedes-AMG has not announced pricing. The first Mythos model was reportedly around €922,000, roughly $1.6 million, so the CLE 646 is expected to be a seven-figure car.

How many Mercedes-AMG CLE 646s will be built?

A total of 250 cars will be produced globally, and only 30 of those will be road-legal. The rest are track-only.

Is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 coming to Australia?

No. Mercedes-Benz Australia has confirmed there are no plans to offer it locally, though a more conventional AMG CLE63 V8 is expected to follow.