Words: Kyle Cassidy
Published 28 January 2026
Mercedes-AMG has provided the best hint yet that the V8 engine isn’t dead just yet, releasing images of a heavily camouflaged, wide-body prototype undergoing winter testing near the Arctic Circle.
While the Affalterbach manufacturer is keeping official details close to its chest, the vehicle is confirmed to be the second entrant in the ultra-exclusive ‘Mythos’ series of collector cars. Based on the CLE Coupé, this new flagship promises to correct one of the biggest complaints regarding the modern AMG lineup by reportedly ditching the four-cylinder hybrid setup for a screaming twin-turbo V8.
The Mythos Treatment
Following the roofless Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed launched in 2024, this new hardtop model is designed to be a “genuine statement on the road.”
Seen here testing on ice in Sweden, the prototype sports a silhouette similar to the standard CLE, but with “uncompromising” modifications. The images reveal a significantly widened front and rear track, aggressive air curtains, a carbon fibre roof, and a prominent fixed rear wing designed for serious downforce.
At the rear, the standard round exhaust tips of the CLE 53 have been replaced with four trapezoidal tailpipes, a hallmark of top-tier AMG machinery.
Under the Bonnet: The AMG V8 Strikes Back
Reports suggest the CLE Mythos will be powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 featuring a motorsport-derived flat-plane crankshaft. This is similar to the technology used in the AMG GT Black Series, which reduces rotating mass for sharper throttle response and a higher redline.
Read more – Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed – exclusively excessive
While the standard CLE 53 makes do with a 3.0-litre straight-six producing 330kW, this Mythos variant is tipped to produce colossal figures. Industry insiders expect power to exceed 485kW (650bhp) and torque to push past 800Nm, sending power to all four wheels.
The performance targets are expected to be equally stratospheric, with a 0-100km/h sprint of under 4.0 seconds and a top speed nudging 300km/h.
Exclusive and Elusive
The ‘Mythos’ series represents the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz exclusivity, sitting above the standard Maybach and AMG ranges.
Just as the SL-based PureSpeed was limited to 250 units with a price tag exceeding $1.4 million NZD, the CLE Mythos is expected to be produced in strictly limited numbers.
