Category Archives: Tuning

Tuning

Mansory BMW M5 G90: Because Too Much Is Never Enough

If you thought the new BMW M5 G90 was already a heavyweight bruiser of the super-sedan world, Mansory has just stepped in to make sure you never call it “understated” again. The German tuner — famous (and occasionally infamous) for its carbon-fiber obsessions and unapologetic flair — has unveiled its take on BMW’s electrified M5, and as expected, subtlety wasn’t invited to the design brief.

The base car hardly needs an introduction. The latest M5, now a plug-in hybrid with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 paired to an electric motor, makes 737 horsepower and a tire-twisting 1,000 Nm of torque straight from the factory. It’s been called “too heavy” by critics, but those complaints tend to fade after a few laps or a launch-control sprint. In practice, the G90 is a monster in tailored German businesswear.

Mansory, however, decided that business casual wasn’t enough.

A Carbon-Fiber Feast

The tuner’s visual treatment isn’t its most unhinged work — there are no gold-plated vents or neon accents this time — but “restrained” is still a relative term. The M5’s front end now wears a new lower grille frame and a deep carbon-fiber splitter that amplifies its scowl. The hood has gained prominent carbon vents front and center, while the side profile picks up carbon mirror caps, side skirts, and detailing around the Hofmeister kink.

As for stance, Mansory drops in a set of 22-inch forged wheels that pack the arches just right, hinting at the power bump lurking beneath.

The Civic-Style Controversy

The most eyebrow-raising detail, however, sits at the back. Mansory ditched BMW’s traditional quad exhausts in favor of a triple-center exhaust setup, channeling major Honda Civic Type R vibes. It’s an odd look for a German luxury sedan, but it somehow works better than the awkward M Performance “stacked” exhausts seen on the M3 and M4. Love it or hate it, you’ll definitely notice it.

Interior Drama

Inside, Mansory goes full peacock. The cabin now mixes bright blue leather with black contrast panels, spreading across the seats and door cards. It’s bold, borderline brash — but for Mansory, it’s actually on the subtle end of the spectrum. Everything looks bespoke and lavish, just enough to remind you that you’re not sitting in any regular BMW press fleet car.

More Power, Naturally

Under the hood, the twin-turbo hybrid V8 gets a healthy power infusion. Output climbs from 737 to 850 horsepower, and torque swells to 1,150 Nm. It’s a bump that few will ever truly need, but everyone will absolutely want — because in Mansory’s world, there’s no such thing as enough power.

The Mansory M5 G90 won’t be for everyone — it’s a statement piece for the unapologetically bold. But there’s no denying it looks meaner, sounds angrier, and accelerates harder than ever. For those who think BMW’s latest M5 was too tame, Mansory’s creation is the caffeinated rebuttal: louder, faster, and proud of every carbon-clad inch.

Source: Mansory

Tuning

Hyundai Ioniq 9 BigTime Concept Turns an Electric Luxury SUV into a Trail Blazer

Off-road builds are stealing the spotlight at this year’s SEMA show, and Hyundai isn’t about to be left out of the mud-slinging fun. While Toyota went wild with a V-6–swapped vintage Land Cruiser and Nissan brought a 1000-hp Patrol to the desert party, Hyundai’s contribution takes a more unexpected route: an all-terrain version of its luxury electric SUV, the Ioniq 9.

To make it happen, the Korean automaker teamed up with YouTube channel BigTime, run by Jeremiah Burton and Zach Jobe, best known for their creative car builds and offbeat engineering projects. Together, they took the road-going Ioniq 9 and reimagined it as something you might actually dare to drive past the pavement’s end.

That’s a bold move, considering the stock Ioniq 9 is about as off-road-ready as a glass coffee table. The SUV rides just 6.9 inches off the ground, prioritizing long-range cruising and upscale comfort over any boulder-bashing ambitions. But the BigTime duo saw potential—and decided to give Hyundai’s biggest EV a dirt-friendly attitude adjustment.

They started with the top-dog Calligraphy trim, which packs a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup good for 422 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. From there, the suspension was lifted—Hyundai won’t say by how much, but the added altitude looks substantial enough to clear some honest trail ruts. The new BFGoodrich all-terrain tires wrapped around retro-cool white OZ Racing wheels complete the transformation, giving the Ioniq 9 a stance straight out of a rally stage.

The modifications are simple but purposeful. A roof-mounted light bar promises illumination when the asphalt fades and the wilderness begins. And then there’s the look—oh, the look. The ’70s-inspired brown-and-tan wrap channels vintage adventure rigs, complete with an oversized Hyundai logo on the hood and a bubbly BigTime script across the doors and fenders. According to Burton and Jobe, the color scheme was pulled from a 1977 Kenworth cabover semi they rescued for their channel last year—a neat nod to old-school trucking nostalgia in a futuristic EV.

Of course, this Ioniq 9 BigTime concept is strictly for show. Don’t expect Hyundai to roll out an off-road package for its flagship EV anytime soon. But as a SEMA showcase of creativity, it works beautifully: proof that even a plush, tech-heavy electric SUV can get a little scruffy—and look all the better for it.

So while Toyota and Nissan went big on displacement and brute force, Hyundai’s contribution to the off-road conversation is a little more tongue-in-cheek: a lifted luxury EV that’s ready to trade valet parking for dirt trails—at least for a weekend.

Source: Car and Driver

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