- Mercedes-AMG teases camo-covered Mythos-series CLE coupe.
- Reports says it features a flat plane crank V8 with over 650 hp.
- Limited production numbers and a huge price are guaranteed.
Mercedes-AMG has dropped a set of icy teaser images of a mean-looking CLE that’s way more serious than the usual 53-badged coupe. It’s the second in Mercedes’ special Mythos series started by the SL-based PureSpeed, and is set to get the first high-performance version of Stuttgart’s new flat-plane crank V8.
Four pictures of a camo-clad prototype show a CLE with a totally new front bumper containing a massively wide lower intake and what could be active aero slats like the ones Porsche uses on the current 911.
Also: Mercedes-AMG Mythos PureSpeed Is An SL Speedster With An F1 Halo Roof Bar
AMG’s trademark toothy Panamericana grille appears unchanged, but the wheels look even fatter than the ones used on the six-cylinder CLE 53, and at the back it’s a totally different beast.
Instead of the 53’s four round tailipes, this new model has a quartet of square ones – traditionally a hallmark of V8 power on AMGs. And in place of the a discrete rear lip spoiler on the back edge of the trunk is a massive motorsport-style rear wing.
RWD or AWD?
Visible inside through the rear window is a roll cage for the rear compartment, though that could just be fitted to keep test drivers safe when they’re exploring the car’s handling limits. One shot of the car oversteering on what must be a frozen lake appears to show snow being kicked up by only the rear wheels, suggesting a two-wheel drive powertrain.
AMG doesn’t give any clues to the drive system beyond those pictures, or what’s under the bonnet, but we’ve been reporting for a year on CLE prototypes spotted testing at the Nurburgring that have allegedly been fitted with the new Mercedes flat-plane crank, 4.0-liter V8.
S-class Comes First
The new S-class that’ll make its debut on the January 29 will give us our first look at this new engine family, but Autocar reports the CLE Mythos will make more than 650 hp (659 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), compared with 530bhp (537 PS) and 550 lb ft of (745 Nm) for the luxury-focused S-class sedan.
Related: Mercedes’ CLE Gets A Facelift, But The Big News Is Under The Hood
As for how many will be built and how much they’ll cost, we don’t yet know, but since this CLE is part of the Mythos program you can bet it’ll be rare and outrageously expensive. The first Mythos car, the SL-based PureSpeed, whose most memorable feature is its F1-style halo, was limited to just 250 units and priced at around $1 million.
