Mercedes-AMG has introduced an extreme version of its CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung coupe with a V8 engine, rear-wheel drive, and extensive use of lightweight materials, Autocar reports.

The car was created as the most driver-centric version of the CLE.

The Mercedes-AMG CLE 53 was taken as the basis, but the car has undergone a large-scale rework. Instead of the 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine, a new 4-liter gasoline V8 M177 Evo with two turbochargers was installed.

Its power has been increased to 637 horsepower, or 646 horsepower, according to the European measurement system, and this is reflected in the model name. The maximum torque is 850 Nm.

The engine has a specially developed Akrapovic titanium exhaust system. At the same time, the all-wheel drive, which is equipped with the CLE 53, has been replaced by rear-wheel drive. Mercedes-AMG believes that such a scheme is better suited to maximum dynamics on the race track and at the same time enables to reduce weight.

To lighten the car, carbon fiber body elements, polycarbonate windows, and a lightweight 12-volt battery were used. The body was additionally reinforced, and a safety cage was integrated into the cabin. As a result, the car weighs 1,895 kg, 30 kg less than the standard CLE 53, despite the larger and heavier engine. In total, the engineers managed to remove about 170 kg from the car.

The CLE 646 accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, to 200 km/h in 11.4 seconds, and to 300 km/h in 36.2 seconds. The suspension with steel coil springs was developed in collaboration with KW specialists and enables to separately adjust the compression and rebound settings of the shock absorbers.

The car has carbon-ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers at the front, forged 20-inch wheel rims, and a widened body with a large rear overhang. The rear seats and part of the soundproofing were removed from the cabin, lightweight concave sports seats were installed, and six-point racing seat belts are available on request.

The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 will be the second model in the Mythos special program, after the previously presented SL PureSpeed roadster. Moreover, the new model will be significantly rarer. Mercedes-AMG plans to release only 30 units.

The price has not yet been announced, but it is expected to considerably exceed $100 thousand. The company emphasizes that the CLE 646 was originally created as an engineering project and shows that the V8 engine is technically compatible with the CLE platform.

“This vehicle came to life because highly rational engineers dreamed of a highly irrational car,” said Stefan Weckbach, chairman of Mercedes-AMG.