The Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung makes a compelling case for a flat-plane V8: its 646 hp, 850 Nm and Mercedes-claimed gains in revving character and throttle response give the limited-run coupe a distinctly focused brief. But Aston Martin’s current Vantage makes the stronger case for tuning the whole 4.0-litre package. Its changes reach from cam profiles and turbochargers to cooling, transmission calibration and the rear-drive chassis—not just the engine’s headline output.
That is a judgment about engineering coherence and the character Aston says it sought, not a proven victory in a controlled test. The two cars are different machines, and their manufacturers’ specifications cannot establish which responds faster or sounds better in practice.
Which cars are being compared?
“CLE AMG” here means the Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, announced by Mercedes-Benz Media on 10 September 2026. It is a highly limited Mythos Series model based on the current CLE Coupé, with a comprehensively reworked drivetrain and chassis. The flat-plane V8 is specific to this car; it should not be taken as a description of every CLE or AMG CLE. Mercedes-Benz Media’s CLE 646 announcement outlines the model and its claimed specifications.
The Aston is the current-generation, base Vantage introduced in 2024, not the separate Vantage S. Aston Martin’s figures vary by market and publication: its 2024 global announcement gives 665 PS and 800 Nm, while its current US engineering page lists 670 bhp / 680 PS and 800 Nm. Those are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements. Aston Martin’s 2024 Vantage announcement and its current US Vantage engineering page provide the respective figures.
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What do the engines deliver on paper?
Both cars use a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and send power to the rear wheels, but their quoted outputs and torque bands tell different stories. Mercedes gives the CLE 646 a torque peak of 850 Nm from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. Aston’s 2024 global release lists 800 Nm; the current US base-Vantage page specifies that torque from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm.
| Model and source | Quoted power | Quoted torque |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-AMG CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung — Mercedes-Benz Media, 2026 | 646 hp (475 kW) | 850 Nm, 2,500–4,500 rpm |
| Aston Martin Vantage — global launch release, 2024 | 665 PS | 800 Nm; rpm range not stated in that release |
| Aston Martin Vantage — current US engineering page, accessed 3 October 2026 | 670 bhp / 680 PS at 6,000 rpm | 800 Nm, 2,000–5,000 rpm |
The numbers do not show Aston making more peak torque: the CLE’s rating is higher. The Vantage’s stated torque band starts lower and extends higher, but that alone does not prove a broader real-world response or greater acceleration. The sources provide no comparable dynamometer curves or controlled response measurements.
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How does each manufacturer say it tuned the engine?
Mercedes-AMG: change the crank, sharpen the response
Mercedes describes the CLE 646’s engine as an extensively enhanced M177 EVO 4.0-litre biturbo V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. The company says the crank reduces rotating mass to improve willingness to rev and throttle response, with dedicated engine mapping supporting that character. Its claim is a clear one: this version of the V8 is intended to feel more eager and immediate.
Mercedes also says the car’s cooling circuits—for the engine, charge air and transmission oil, and 48-volt components—were reinforced for hard circuit use and high ambient temperatures. A bespoke high-flow exhaust, developed with Akrapovič on the cold end and using titanium to reduce weight, completes the engine-and-exhaust package. These are manufacturer descriptions, not independent sound or thermal tests.
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Aston Martin: revise the engine and its supporting systems
For the 2024 Vantage, Aston Martin said its hand-built V8 received modified cam profiles, an optimized compression ratio, larger turbochargers and increased cooling. It attributed the higher output to these changes and described the intended result as sharper, more visceral and more vocal. The current US specification lists an 8.6:1 compression ratio, dual variable cam timing and water-to-air charge cooling.
The cooling work went beyond a single component. Aston’s launch release specifies an added low-temperature charge-cooler radiator, two auxiliary coolers, a larger auxiliary oil cooler and more cold airflow. That detail matters to the tuning argument: the Vantage’s stated engine changes sit within a broader effort to manage heat and sustain performance, rather than relying on a peak-power figure alone.
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Why the transmission and chassis matter to the tuning verdict
An engine’s character reaches the driver through its gearing, differential and chassis. The CLE 646 is rear-wheel drive after Mercedes removed the donor CLE’s AMG Performance 4MATIC+ system. It uses an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. The Vantage is also rear-wheel drive, with a front-mid-engine layout, a rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic and an electronic differential, according to Aston Martin’s current US specification.
Aston says it honed the ZF’s shift calibration and used a 3.083:1 final drive to improve response and in-gear acceleration. That gives the Vantage tuning story a concrete link between engine output and how the car deploys it. Mercedes’ specification instead emphasizes the CLE 646’s dedicated transmission, rear-drive conversion and wider performance-system overhaul.
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The CLE 646 is not merely an engine transplant into an otherwise standard coupe. Mercedes says it is around 170 kg lighter than its donor vehicle and has wider tracks, a purpose-developed chassis, extensive body changes and a four-way-adjustable KW co-developed coil-over suspension. Mercedes’ claimed 0–200 km/h time of 11.4 seconds and 310 km/h top speed belong to that complete car; they are manufacturer figures, not independent test results. Aston’s description likewise places the Vantage’s power in the context of what it calls a balanced front-engine, rear-drive chassis. The cars’ different layouts and development programs make an engine-only winner difficult to declare.
Does the Aston really tune the 4.0-litre better?
On the evidence available, Aston has the more persuasive whole-car tuning case; Mercedes has the more distinctive engine-layout intervention. The CLE’s flat-plane crank is a specific, technically legible attempt to change rev character and response. Aston’s case is broader: it identifies changes to the engine’s breathing and compression, turbo size, cooling capacity, shift calibration and final drive, tying those decisions to the Vantage’s rear-drive package.
That supports a reasoned preference for Aston’s integration, not a factual claim that its V8 is objectively better. The supplied manufacturer material does not provide an independent back-to-back test, comparable dynamometer traces, measured throttle-response data, sound levels or controlled assessments of transmission behavior. Even the power and torque ratings come from different manufacturers and, for Aston, different market-specific publications. The title’s “better” therefore works as an editorial verdict about the completeness of the tuning approach, not a demonstrated performance ranking.
What about sound and high-rpm character?
Mercedes positions the flat-plane crank around lower rotating mass, revving willingness and throttle response, and describes a bespoke high-flow exhaust. Aston says its Vantage revisions make the engine more vocal and visceral, and its US specification confirms an electronically controllable exhaust. Those statements establish intent and equipment, not an objective sound comparison. No measured sound data or controlled listening comparison is available in the cited material, so claims that one car is louder, more musical or more satisfying would go beyond it.
The US Vantage S should also be kept separate from the base car in this comparison. Aston Martin USA’s Vantage S brochure lists 671 HP and 590 lb-ft, along with a rev limit above 7,600 rpm and its own changes to cam profiles, compression, combustion efficiency and turbos. Those S-model figures and details do not describe the base Vantage discussed here. Aston Martin USA’s Vantage S brochure gives that distinct specification.
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