Mercedes Is Sneaking a V8 Into the Regular CLE After All

Mercedes promised the V8 would be a Mythos-only affair—a limited production halo car for the rich and obsessive. Then spy photographers caught them testing a regular CLE 63 with all the V8 tells, and suddenly that exclusive narrative crumbles.

Two heavily camouflaged AMG prototypes were recently spotted undergoing European testing, and they’re not subtle about what they’re packing. The real smoking gun? One prototype sports four squared-off tailpipes, the universal language of a big-displacement engine tucked underneath. That exhaust signature screams twin-turbo V8, not the turbocharged six you get in the CLE 53.

The V8 Wasn’t Supposed to Leave the Garage

Here’s where this gets interesting. Mercedes spent considerable energy building mystique around the Mercedes-AMG CLE Mythos—a hardcore, extremely limited successor to the legendary CLK Black Series. That car was supposed to be the V8’s exclusive domain, with around 637 horsepower and a rumored production cap of just 30 units. Limited editions create desire. Exclusivity sells.

But spy shots don’t lie, and neither do exhaust pipes. The facelifted CLE lineup is clearly getting a proper 63 variant with what appears to be the same twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that produces approximately 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. That’s the real story Mercedes wasn’t supposed to let out this early.

The shift makes financial sense, even if it punctures the exclusivity balloon. Offering the V8 across a broader lineup—not just the ultra-expensive Mythos—opens the engine to a larger customer base without completely muddying the waters. Mercedes gets more volume; collectors still get their ultra-rare variant. It’s a compromise that works for everyone except the three people who thought they were buying something truly unique.

The Six-Cylinder Still Has Teeth

The spy photos also captured a CLE 53 prototype, which gives us a clearer picture of the entry-level AMG’s direction. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six will soldier on with 443 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, capable of hitting 60 mph in around four seconds. That’s hardly slow, and for most buyers, it’s more than adequate.

The real-world difference between 443 hp and 577 hp plays out on the road as refinement, not just straight-line punch. A V8 brings a different character—that mechanical smoothness, the kind of response you feel as much as hear. The six-cylinder is efficient and capable, but it’s also doing what modern turbocharged motors have learned to do: punch above its displacement weight. The V8 doesn’t need to try as hard.

Both prototypes display the visual refresh Mercedes has planned for the facelifted generation: revised grille work, updated front bumper design, and what looks like a restyled rear diffuser. Nothing groundbreaking—this is a midcycle refresh, not a complete redesign. But the new headlights and taillights, complete with that distinctive star motif, signal Mercedes’ push toward a more aggressive, tech-forward aesthetic.

Why This Matters Beyond the Nameplate

Here’s the larger context: Mercedes is clinging to big displacement engines while the rest of the industry scrambles toward electrification and smaller turbos. The CLE 63 with a V8 is a defiant statement—a reminder that for some cars, displacement and cylinder count still matter. This isn’t a hybrid compromise or an electric posturing exercise. It’s a loud, old-school gasoline engine in a world increasingly skeptical of both.

That positions the CLE 63 as something of a rearguard action. Not everyone can afford the Mythos’ astronomical price tag, but Mercedes understands that plenty of enthusiasts will pay decent money for a taste of that V8 without the ultra-exclusive price. The CLE 63 becomes the accessible gateway to what Mercedes still does better than most: building powerful, refined grand touring machines that prioritize driver engagement over corporate efficiency metrics.

The facelifted CLE—both the six-cylinder 53 and the V8-powered 63—likely arrives sometime in 2026 or early 2027, though official EPA ratings and specifications remain under wraps. The Mythos will follow afterward, wielding its extra horsepower and limited-production status as a final bow to the era of exclusive, analog grand tourers. For now, the spy shots confirm what we suspected: Mercedes isn’t ready to kill the V8. It’s just willing to share it.

Sources: Carscoops