Mercedes’ 646-HP AMG CLE Could Make the BMW M4 CSL Look Tame

Earlier this year, Mercedes teased an extreme new AMG CLE under its Mythos sub-brand, a division dedicated to ultra-low-volume special editions, and now the Autoblog spies have snapped a development mule up close at the Nürburgring. First impressions? This will be a far more aggressive vehicle than anything in the BMW lineup, including the 543-horsepower M4 CSL, with plenty of aerodynamic aids and even a roll cage. Okay, the roll cage may only be there for on-track security during testing, but we wouldn't be surprised if such a thing were offered in the markets that legally allow it. With close to 650 hp on tap, according to reports out of Germany, this will be a monster.

Hardcore AMG CLE Coming to the U.S. with Big Horsepower

News of the top-tier CLE's power came after a dealer meeting showed U.S. and Canadian dealers a slew of exciting AMGs that will be introduced before the year is out, indicating that this limited edition will come to North America. The report said the special CLE 63 variant would pack 646 hp (likely from a specially tuned version of the flat-plane crank V8 in the new S-Class), adding that only 30 units would be produced. That's the entire production run, not just North America's, and if that's accurate, this will be one of the rarest modern Mercs yet, doubtless with an eye-watering price tag to boot. Our spies say this will be a hybrid, but it's unclear if it will be a plug-in or a mild-hybrid. To keep weight down, we suspect the latter.

Also unclear is whether this will carry the Black Series badge or something new. AMG's current CEO, Stefan Weckbach, said Black Series models are "an obligation" for the brand, but perhaps he was referring to the incoming AMG GT Black Series, with this Mythos creation getting a new designation. Whatever the case, this prototype showing up at the 'Ring means development is approaching the final stages, and the bodywork suggests as much, too.

Mythos AMG CLE Has New Bodywork All Over

Up front, the hardcore CLE has a very deep splitter, and the aggressive lower side intakes are flanked by canards. Higher up, the AMG grille appears to have a small badge on the right side, and the hood is vented. The fenders are too, with large openings covered by vinyl behind the front wheels. This seems to indicate that the fender vents may not be fully functional, but they'll look good and help widen the body and track. We see some fake cladding beneath the camo on the rear quarters, too, so this will be wider from every angle. The rear fascia seems pretty standard, but that'll almost definitely change for the production model, with a special diffuser and possibly even some unique exhaust tips. What's not standard is the large wing, which has slots to allow for manual adjustment, further hinting at this car's performance acumen.

Notably, neither the headlights nor the taillights bear star-shaped LED graphics; will that change for production, or is this meant to stand apart from other Mercedes products? We should know soon, with a reveal expected before the end of the year, possibly as early as the summer.

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