Mercedes-AMG is preparing the next instalment of the Mythos Series. While the PureSpeed drew inspiration from the Mille Miglia-conquering 300SLR, the upcoming CLE-based model looks to the recent past – namely the CLK DTM and C 63 Black Series. The camouflage does little to hide the widened body, and can’t begin to cover up the enlarged lower grille. Diveplanes feature at either edge of the bumper, and the car’s aerodynamic makeover continues at the rear with a fixed high-level wing.

Putting the prototype under the microscope reveals the fitment of four-wheel steering, and suggests the finalised model will fill its swollen arches better than it does at present. The prototype is running 20” multi-spoke alloy wheels that are commonly seen on the EQS 53 and CLE 53, with the final production model expected to sport a staggered 20/21” set-up. A functional air outlet is found behind the front wheel wells, and a roll cage in the rear of the cabin is visible through the clear glass, hinting at a track-focused demeanour.

The most interesting details are those found either side of the rear diffuser: the quartet of exhaust pipes. That’s nothing new for an AMG, but for the first time on the CLE, they’re square. Pipes like these are reserved for 55 and 63 models, and looking through the open front grille confirms a powertrain with increased cooling requirements. The bumper is filled with radiators from edge-to-edge, in a set-up remarkably similar to the 205-series C 63.

While no technical details have been revealed yet, it’s widely known that Affalterbach’s engineers have been working on adapting the CLE platform to accommodate a V8. Originally never meant to house two cylinder banks, the range-topper was due to be the 63 S E Performance, but the 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid was cancelled in the late stages of development. Despite offering impressive cornering performance and straight line speed, the 670bhp four-cylinder hybrid AMGs received lukewarm receptions, and were widely criticised for an inferior soundtrack compared to their V8-powered predecessors.

All signs point towards a return to twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder power at the model’s facelift, but with a catch. In order to comply with the incoming Euro 7 emissions standards, the 4.0-litre engine has been extensively modified, and has shifted to using a flatplane crank shaft. As a result, and quite ironically, the engine may still sound like a four-cylinder – as evidenced by the AMG GT Black Series.

For now, its maker is giving little away, simply referring to the new model as “uncompromising” and “extreme” – words frequently used to describe AMG’s Black Series products. Whether that means the car will arrive with only two driven wheels remains to be seen. No timeframes have been given for the model’s launch, but the unfinished nature of the early-stage prototype’s bodywork, plus the impending arrival of the CLE’s facelift suggest an announcement in the latter half of 2026 at the earliest.