Tuning

Larte Design’s Two-Tone Mercedes-AMG G63 Is a €90,000 Paint Job That Somehow Makes Sense

If there is one thing the Mercedes-AMG G63 has never lacked, it’s presence. With its towering stance, thunderous V-8 soundtrack, and enough visual drama to make a supercar feel self-conscious, the G-Wagen already occupies a unique place in the luxury SUV universe. Apparently, though, there are buyers who look at a six-figure AMG and think: It needs more attention.

That’s where German tuner Larte Design comes in.

Following the introduction of its “Winner” carbon-fiber body kit for the current-generation G63, the Erkrath-based company has unveiled a new personalization program that adds something Mercedes itself doesn’t offer: a fully bespoke two-tone exterior finish.

The premise is simple. According to Larte, many customers eager to get behind the wheel of a G63 don’t want to endure lengthy factory waiting lists and often end up purchasing vehicles finished in colors they never would have chosen. The solution? Buy the G63 now, then let Larte transform it later.

Owners can select virtually any two-color combination imaginable and decide whether the weave of the carbon-fiber body components should remain visible or be painted over. Once specifications are finalized, the SUV is shipped to one of Germany’s specialist paint facilities—the same kind of workshops trusted by several luxury-car manufacturers for their own high-end finishing work.

The result is a G63 that somehow manages to stand out even in a parking lot full of G-Wagens.

Of course, exclusivity isn’t cheap. Larte’s Winner carbon-fiber package, which includes components designed to fit without requiring modifications to the original bodywork, carries a price tag of €44,276 and comes paired with 23-inch wheels. Add the new two-tone paint treatment and buyers will need to find another €45,000.

Yes, that’s nearly €90,000 in upgrades before you’ve even touched the powertrain.

Not that the engine needs much help. Beneath the squared-off hood remains AMG’s familiar 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, producing 585 horsepower and 627 pound-feet (850 Nm) of torque. That’s enough to launch the luxury brick from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds before it runs into an electronically governed top speed of 137 mph.

So what does almost ninety grand buy you? Not more power. Not more speed. Not even more capability off-road. What it buys is individuality—a commodity that, for many G63 owners, may be worth more than an extra hundred horsepower.

In a world where exclusivity is often measured by how difficult it is to get noticed, Larte Design has found a way to make the Mercedes-AMG G63 even harder to ignore. Whether that’s a brilliant business idea or a symptom of luxury-car excess depends entirely on which side of the €90,000 paint bill you’re standing.

Source: Larte Design

Restomod

This BMW E9 CSL Restomod Is the V8-Powered M Car BMW Never Built

The BMW E9 CSL occupies a sacred place in the brand’s history. Lightweight, elegant, and instantly recognizable thanks to its dramatic “Batmobile” aero package, it remains one of Munich’s most celebrated performance cars. Yet for all its motorsport pedigree, the original CSL never enjoyed the kind of power modern enthusiasts crave.

That’s where this remarkable one-off creation comes in.

Built roughly a decade ago by German workshop MKO, founded by BMW enthusiast Michael Oberhauser, this machine answers a question nobody at BMW ever officially dared ask: What if an E9 CSL had been developed using the heart and soul of an E39 M5?

The answer is sitting before us in steel, aluminum, and hand-crafted ingenuity.

Rather than performing a simple engine swap, MKO essentially merged two generations of BMW performance legends into a single cohesive package. The project reportedly began with an E39 M5 and components sourced from two E9 CS coupes. What followed was a painstaking transformation that blended 1970s styling with the engineering of one of BMW’s greatest modern sports sedans.

The surgery went far beyond cosmetic alterations. According to details from the original build story, the upper structure of the M5 was removed, the wheelbase shortened by nearly eight inches, and an E9 roof grafted onto the modified chassis. The goal wasn’t simply to recreate the look of a classic coupe—it was to preserve its delicate proportions while retaining the mechanical sophistication underneath.

Achieving that balance required extensive bodywork. The front fenders were widened by roughly 2.5 inches, while the rear arches gained around four inches of additional width. Much of the custom fabrication was completed in Romania, where craftsmen hand-formed bespoke body panels to create a seamless blend of old and new.

The finished product looks as though BMW’s skunkworks division secretly built a restomod decades before the term became fashionable.

Visual cues pay tribute to the legendary 3.0 CSL “Batmobile,” including a roof-mounted spoiler, small front-fender aero fins, classic Hella driving lamps, and period-inspired badging. The body wears Porsche-sourced paint and now rides on 19-inch Alpina-style wheels wrapped in sticky Continental SportContact 7 tires. Early versions reportedly wore standard E39 M5 wheels, but the current setup better suits the car’s muscular stance.

Inside, the modern underpinnings become more apparent. A modified E39 M5 dashboard remains in place, accompanied by heated Recaro seats, dual-zone climate control, power windows, and a Pioneer touchscreen infotainment system. It’s an unusual mix of classic grand tourer and modern sports sedan, complete with creative engineering solutions such as relocating the driver’s window switch to the center console.

The real star, however, lives beneath the hood.

Power comes from BMW’s legendary 4.9-liter S62 V8, the naturally aspirated masterpiece that made the E39 M5 a performance benchmark. In this application, the engine has been reworked to produce 432 horsepower, all sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

Considering the E9’s significantly smaller dimensions and lower visual mass, the combination borders on outrageous.

Handling upgrades include adjustable KW coilovers and the M5’s braking hardware, giving the car the stopping power and chassis control needed to keep pace with its muscular powertrain. The result is less a restoration than a BMW hot rod—one that combines the analogue charm of the 1970s with the mechanical confidence of one of the greatest M cars ever built.

It’s the sort of machine that could only exist outside BMW’s corporate walls: too expensive, too complicated, and perhaps too niche for production. Yet that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating.

Now, after years of turning heads and challenging conventional BMW history, this singular creation is looking for a new caretaker. Listed through Bring a Trailer Germany, the hand-built CSL-M5 hybrid had attracted bids of €42,225 at the time of writing.

For BMW enthusiasts, that’s a small price for a glimpse into an alternate universe—one where the E9 CSL never stopped evolving.

Source: Autocar

News

Subaru Doubles Down on Three Pedals: WRX, BRZ, and a Mystery Hatchback Get Manual Transmissions by 2027

In an era where dual-clutch gearboxes shift faster than any human ever could and electrification continues its relentless march, Subaru has decided to throw enthusiasts a lifeline. Better yet, it’s a lifeline with three pedals attached.

During a media roundtable at Japan’s Fuji 24 Hours race, Subaru confirmed that three new manual-transmission models are headed for showrooms by 2027. The lineup includes a WRX sedan, a hotter BRZ coupe, and perhaps most intriguingly, an all-new five-door hatchback that promises to carve out its own identity within Subaru’s performance family.

It’s the clearest signal yet that Subaru still sees value in driver engagement, even as much of the industry moves in the opposite direction.

The Return of the Manual WRX

For many enthusiasts, the biggest news is the WRX.

While Subaru recently offered a manual-equipped WRX STI Sport♯ in Japan, that model was limited to just 600 examples distributed through a lottery system. Now the manual is set to return permanently to the WRX range, and Subaru isn’t taking shortcuts.

Rather than using the TY75 gearbox found in the current WRX tS and STI Sport♯, the company is resurrecting the tougher TY85 six-speed manual from the previous-generation WRX STI. Subaru says the transmission was chosen specifically for its durability and reliability, suggesting the engineers expect drivers to use it exactly as intended.

The teaser image accompanying the announcement also reveals a familiar hood scoop, strongly hinting that the WRX will continue to rely on Subaru’s turbocharged 2.4-liter boxer four without any form of electrification. For purists worried about hybrid assistance diluting the WRX formula, that’s welcome news.

A New Hot Hatch Emerges

The most fascinating member of the trio isn’t the WRX or the BRZ—it’s the mysterious five-door hatchback.

Subaru confirmed the newcomer will evolve from the Performance-B STI Concept shown at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, but company executives suggest it won’t simply be a hatchback version of the WRX.

Chief Technology Officer Tetsuro Fujinuki described the project as an “affordable base car” designed to give Subaru’s enthusiast-minded engineers room to experiment while leveraging existing components and technology. Reading between the lines, that sounds like a recipe for something enthusiasts have been requesting for years: an Impreza-sized hatch infused with WRX hardware.

The concept’s proportions, along with the closely related High Performance X Version II race car, point toward a vehicle that could eventually spawn a full-fledged WRX STI flagship. A turbocharged boxer engine, all-wheel drive, sharper suspension tuning, and more aggressive aerodynamics all seem likely ingredients.

Interestingly, the latest teaser image shows a more restrained body shape than the original concept, lacking its exaggerated wide fenders. That could indicate Subaru is positioning the hatchback as a more accessible enthusiast model before potentially expanding the lineup with even hotter variants.

Whatever form it takes, the company insists the hatchback will bring a personality distinct from both the WRX and BRZ.

The BRZ Gets Sharper

The third manual model may be the least surprising, but it could end up being the most rewarding to drive.

Subaru says a new BRZ “Complete Car” is in development, based on the BRZ STI Sport Type RA that debuted in late 2025. The company promises a lighter, more engaging driving experience, which is exactly what BRZ fans want to hear.

The limited-run Type RA already came equipped with aerodynamic enhancements, ZF dampers, and Brembo brakes, creating one of the most focused versions of Subaru’s rear-drive sports coupe. Unlike that 300-unit special edition, however, the new model appears destined to become a permanent member of the lineup.

Don’t expect a dramatic power increase. Subaru has offered no indication that the turbocharged boxer engine from its BRZ race car will make the leap to the street. Instead, the emphasis appears to be on reducing weight, sharpening chassis responses, and enhancing the connection between driver and machine.

Frankly, that’s probably the right approach.

Subaru’s Enthusiast Revival

All three vehicles will be developed under Subaru’s newly created Sports Vehicle Planning Office, a division tasked with translating lessons learned from the company’s motorsports activities into road-going products.

That mission statement may sound familiar, but Subaru’s actions are speaking louder than its press releases. At a time when manual transmissions are disappearing across the industry, the company is investing resources into not one, but three enthusiast-focused models built around driver involvement.

Whether these cars remain exclusive to Japan is the million-dollar question. Subaru has yet to confirm any export plans, leaving enthusiasts in North America and Europe cautiously optimistic.

Still, the message coming from Fuji Speedway is difficult to ignore: Subaru believes there’s still a place for manual gearboxes, turbocharged boxer engines, and cars designed primarily for people who enjoy driving.

And in 2026, that’s becoming an increasingly rare thing.

Source: Subaru

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