Mercedes-AMG CLE 646: What Indian Buyers Should Know

Mercedes-AMG has revealed the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung as a 30-unit special version of the CLE, and every example has already been sold. For Indian buyers, this is more about seeing how far AMG is taking a limited-run performance coupe than about a new model they can book now.

Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 performance figures

The CLE 646 uses a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft, producing 646hp and 850Nm. Unlike the AMG CLE 53, which is all-wheel drive, this car sends its power only to the rear wheels through a nine-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.

• 0-100kph takes 3.9sec
• 0-200kph takes 11.4sec
• Top speed is 310kph
• Engine output is 646hp and 850Nm

CLE 646 weight and chassis changes

AMG has cut around 170kg compared with the donor car, bringing the CLE 646 down to 1,895kg. Carbon-fibre panels, polycarbonate rear glass and a lighter 12-volt battery are among the changes. The body is also 60mm wider than the CLE 53.

The suspension uses steel coilovers co-developed with KW, with four-way adjustable dampers. Braking hardware includes 420mm front and 360mm rear carbon-ceramic discs. An adjustable front diffuser and rear wing form part of the aerodynamic package, with AMG claiming more than 250kg of downforce at top speed.

What happens to the CLE 646 interior?

The weight reduction continues inside. The CLE 646 drops its rear seats and acoustic insulation, while getting lightweight bucket seats, carbon-fibre door panels and a roll bar. The sound system and some driver-assistance features have also been simplified or removed.

A six-point racing harness is available with the optional Performance Package. Each car is hand-built in Affalterbach using a CLE 53 base, and production is capped at just 30 examples worldwide.

Is the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 coming to India?

There is no India launch information or pricing given for the CLE 646. More importantly, AMG says all 30 cars were sold before the world premiere, so this is effectively a closed allocation rather than a car Indian buyers can newly order.

Would you choose a stripped-back rear-wheel-drive AMG like the CLE 646 over a more usable performance coupe?