Heavily camouflaged AMG CLE could be hiding a V8 underneath
Rumours suggest that Mercedes-AMG could be developing a V8-powered CLE, reigniting hope that this iconic engine might finally return to the C63 conversation. This potential move would address longstanding enthusiast demand.
When we first drove the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53, our immediate takeaway was simple: this is what the current C63 S E Performance should have been. Its mild-hybrid 3.0-litre straight-6, pushing out a healthy 347kW, delivers something the 4-cylinder C63 has struggled to replicate. Slot that drivetrain into a C-Class body, and the backlash might never have happened.
Now things are getting interesting. Mercedes-AMG is currently conducting cold-weather testing in Sweden on what it calls the second model in its ultra-exclusive Mercedes-Benz Mythos series, following the radical PureSpeed open-top speedster. And despite the heavy camouflage, this prototype isn’t exactly trying to hide its intentions.
You can clearly make out a huge rear wing, quad AMG exhaust tips, and a front end that sits aggressively low, finished off with a Panamericana grille that screams performance.
Probably the biggest news, though, is that Mercedes itself is describing this as an ‘extreme’ car. Read between the lines, and it’s hard not to speculate that AMG’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 could be making a return, potentially with outputs north of 480kW and torque figures hovering around the 800Nm mark. If that turns out to be true, it could signal a much-needed correction for AMG itself. And yes, our biggest hope is that this very engine eventually finds its way back into the C63, where many aficionados feel it belongs.
The second Mercedes-Benz Mythos model is clearly edging closer to its reveal. With testing well underway, an official unveiling feels imminent, and when it does break cover, more concrete details should follow soon after. If nothing else, this car already feels like a turning point.
