Category Archives: Tuning

Tuning

This Royalty Purple BMW M2 Proves Bold Still Sells

The G87-generation BMW M2 hasn’t exactly been starved of attention since its debut nearly three years ago. Between the internet debates over its design and the flood of tuner builds trying to outdo one another, BMW’s baby M car has become a favorite canvas for customization. Making one stand out in this crowded scene is no small feat—but this Royalty Purple creation manages to do just that, and then some.

Wrapped in a deep, high-gloss purple that seems to shift tone depending on the light, this M2 has undergone a transformation that’s impossible to ignore. The finish polarizes like few others—it’s the sort of color that’ll make some stop dead in admiration and others roll their eyes. Either way, you’re looking.

But the updates here go far beyond color therapy. The stance tells the rest of the story: a KW Variant 3 coilover suspension drops the car closer to the tarmac, dialing out some of the stock wheel gap while sharpening the visual aggression. A full aero kit adds extra menace—front and rear lips, chunkier side skirts, and a ground-hugging posture that hints at intent rather than subtlety.

The factory alloys, fine though they are, have been binned in favor of Barracuda’s Ultralight Series wheels finished in Hyper Silber. They measure 20 inches up front and 21 out back, wrapped in Hankook Ventus S1 evo³ rubber (285/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR21, respectively). The combo not only fills the arches perfectly but also adds an extra dose of motorsport attitude.

It’s the kind of build that would feel right at home parked under the neon lights of the Essen Motor Show, on the polished floors of SEMA, or among the wild machines of the Tokyo Auto Salon. The craftsmanship straddles that fine line between street style and show-car polish.

Of course, if you prefer your modifications with a BMW part number attached, the brand’s M Performance catalog offers no shortage of factory-blessed hardware for the M2—everything from carbon bits to exhaust upgrades. And if purple isn’t your thing, BMW’s Individual program is gradually expanding its color palette. But for those unwilling to wait (or play it safe), a well-executed wrap like this proves there’s still room for personality—even in a sea of customized M cars.

In a world where the G87 M2 continues to divide opinions, this Royalty Purple example leans fully into the controversy—and somehow, it works.

Source: scope_shots via Instagram

Tuning

Larte Design Turns the Cadillac Escalade into a Rolling Work of Excess

The Cadillac Escalade isn’t a common sight on European roads, and that’s putting it mildly. It’s vast, brash, and gloriously excessive—an unapologetic slice of Americana that makes a Bentley Bentayga look demure. Threading one through the cobbled streets of Paris or Prague would be like piloting a luxury yacht through a Venetian canal. But for German tuner Larte Design, that challenge wasn’t deterrent—it was inspiration.

Meet the Larte Esthete, a bodykit so bold it makes even the 682-hp Escalade-V look restrained. This is the sort of visual theater the Escalade was always destined for, now dialed up to eleven.

A Kit with Presence—and Then Some

The Esthete package, developed specifically for 2024–2026 Escalade models, can be crafted from either pre-preg carbon fiber or basalt composite fiber—the latter being a lightweight, heat-resistant material derived from volcanic rock. Larte says there are more than a dozen new components in total, each one sculpted to exaggerate the SUV’s already immense proportions.

The transformation begins up front with a new hood, available in either bare carbon or painted to match the body, paired with a subtle hood deflector and revised trim outlining the Escalade’s massive grille. A sharper front splitter and a pair of small integrated DRLs round off the fascia, adding an extra dash of menace.

Wide Shoulders, Wider Attitude

Along the sides, flared fenders swell over both axles, giving the Cadillac a stance that borders on cartoonish—in a good way. Larte also reshapes the mirror caps, tweaks the side skirts, and offers a set of forged wheels fitted with a carbon fiber aero ring, because, apparently, efficiency matters even when your SUV has the aerodynamic profile of a townhouse.

Rear-End Refinement, the Larte Way

The rear treatment is equally dramatic. A roof spoiler and a reshaped trunk lid trim set the tone, while a revised bumper, quad exhaust outlets, and slim vertical LED brake lights give the Escalade a look that could almost pass for a concept car. The new diffuser ties it all together, adding a final layer of visual aggression.

Form Over Function? Absolutely—and Proud of It

Installation reportedly takes about six hours, and the kit can be shipped worldwide, meaning a few American Escalades are bound to get the full Esthete treatment soon. Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, but given the materials and the craftsmanship, expect a figure somewhere north of “reasonable.”

Of course, none of this makes the Escalade any more practical for navigating Alpine switchbacks or medieval alleyways. But practicality was never the point. The Larte Esthete exists purely to amplify what the Escalade already represents—size, spectacle, and swagger. And in that mission, it’s mission accomplished.

Source: Cadillac

Tuning

Irmscher Sharpens Leapmotor C10 into a 590-HP Electric Missile

Despite rising import tariffs and mounting political headwinds, Chinese automakers continue to march into Europe’s EV stronghold undeterred. The latest arrival comes with a familiar German name attached: Irmscher, the storied tuner best known for its work on Opel models, has joined forces with Leapmotor, a rapidly growing Chinese EV brand partly owned by Stellantis, to produce a limited-edition version of the Leapmotor C10 electric SUV.

Only 250 units of this collaboration—dubbed the i C10—will be available in Germany, marking not only the SUV’s European debut in tuned form but also the beginning of a deeper partnership between Irmscher and Leapmotor. Expect more Sino-German crossovers (of the corporate kind) in the future.

Subtle Aggression

Visually, Irmscher’s touch is restrained but purposeful. The i C10 wears a set of new five-spoke alloy wheels that appear larger than the standard 20-inch set, along with a red accent stripe running along the side profile, echoed on the front splitter and wheel center caps. Around back, a more pronounced rear spoiler and a discrete “i C10” badge beneath the Leapmotor script complete the look. There’s no body kit here—just enough flair to signal intent without shouting about it.

Sharper Dynamics, Same Power

Irmscher’s upgrades aren’t just skin deep. The tuner has fitted stiffer suspension aimed at tightening up body control and adding a dose of handling precision to what was already one of the more dynamically capable Chinese EV SUVs. That said, there are no powertrain modifications—which, frankly, isn’t a problem.

Under the skin, the i C10 packs the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup from the C10’s flagship trim, good for 598 PS (590 hp) and a brisk 0–100 km/h sprint in 4.0 seconds flat. Energy comes from an 81.9-kWh battery pack, which offers 437 kilometers of WLTP range. For context, the rear-drive C10 with the same battery stretches that to 510 kilometers, while the entry-level 69.9-kWh model manages 420 kilometers on a charge.

There’s also an intriguing extended-range version that pairs a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with a 215-hp electric motor and a 28.4-kWh battery, promising an impressive 950 kilometers of combined driving range. That variant, however, skips the Irmscher treatment.

Pricing and Positioning

In Germany, the i C10 commands €49,900, roughly €5,000 more than the C10 ProMax AWD (€44,900). The base rear-drive C10 starts at €36,400, making this Irmscher-tuned edition a boutique option rather than a mass-market grab.

Still, the move is symbolic: a Chinese automaker aligning with a respected German tuner suggests Leapmotor wants to be seen not merely as a budget alternative to European EVs, but as a credible player in the performance segment.

The Bigger Picture

For all the tariff talk and brand skepticism, cars like the Leapmotor i C10 show how globalized the EV era has already become. A Chinese-built SUV, partly owned by a French-Italian-American conglomerate, styled and tuned in Germany—it’s the kind of cross-border cooperation that defines modern carmaking.

And if the i C10 is any indication, Europe’s tuning houses might soon find themselves busier than ever—refining the future, one electric SUV at a time.

Source: Irmscher