Tag Archives: BMW

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

News

2026 BMW iX3: The Neue Klasse Goes Touring Before It Goes on Sale

BMW’s electric revolution is quietly humming to life deep in Hungary. The automaker began series production of the new iX3 last month at its freshly minted Debrecen plant, marking the first Neue Klasse model to enter full production. But don’t expect to see one in your driveway just yet—European deliveries won’t start until next spring. Until then, BMW is keeping the anticipation alive with a continental roadshow for its “NA5” prototype, which just made its Dutch debut in Amsterdam.

Double Trouble: Two Flavors of iX3

In typical BMW fashion, the brand didn’t bring just one shiny new EV to show off—it brought two. Both examples ride on massive 22-inch wheels, the largest available at launch, and wear the M Sport Package. The second vehicle ups the ante with the M Sport Package Pro, signaled by black mirror caps and a slightly meaner stance.

Curiously, BMW painted both in Space Silver, a choice that doesn’t exactly make it easy to tell them apart. But no one was really complaining—the iX3’s crisp lines, upright stance, and sculpted proportions speak for themselves.

Adding a nostalgic twist, BMW parked a 1963 BMW 1800 TI alongside the new EV. The vintage sedan, part of the original Neue Klasse series and co-developed with ALPINA, serves as a rolling reminder of BMW’s first reinvention. It’s a neat bit of continuity—an old-school “Turismo Internazionale” inspiring the next generation of electric driving machines.

Design Language: Vertical vs. Horizontal Kidneys

The iX3’s vertical kidney grille design makes an immediate statement, tying it visually to the crossover side of the Neue Klasse family. Not every future model will follow that pattern, though. The upcoming i3 sedan, expected next year, will instead feature a horizontal grille stretching into the headlights—a look previewed by the 2023 Vision Neue Klasse concept. Going forward, BMW says SUVs will stick with vertical, while sedans go horizontal. File that under “neat design trivia” for your next cars-and-coffee.

Powertrain Plans: Starting with the 50 xDrive

The first wave of iX3s rolling out of Debrecen are all 50 xDrive models, the only configuration available at launch. Expect dual motors and all-wheel drive, though BMW hasn’t released full specs yet. Lower trims—40 xDrive and 40 sDrive—are already confirmed and should arrive soon after.

BMW’s M division, unsurprisingly, isn’t sitting this one out. Spy shots suggest a full M version is in development, and we may see an M Performance model in between, possibly badged M60.

Global Production: Made in Hungary, China, and Mexico

While Debrecen will handle the European-market models, BMW’s global EV rollout strategy is anything but centralized. Starting in 2026, a long-wheelbase iX3 (NA6) will be assembled in Shenyang, China, and in 2027, the San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico will join the lineup to serve North American markets.

The takeaway? BMW isn’t just electrifying its lineup—it’s retooling its entire manufacturing footprint to do it.

The new BMW iX3 isn’t just another electric SUV—it’s the first true production embodiment of BMW’s Neue Klasse philosophy. Clean design, modular architecture, and an eye toward efficiency over excess mark a return to form for the brand.

And if the debut in Amsterdam is anything to go by, BMW’s electric future looks less like a leap of faith and more like a calculated evolution—rooted firmly in the past but engineered for what comes next.

Source: BMW

NEW CARS

2026 BMW M2 CS: A Modern Classic in the Making

There was a time when BMW’s CS badge came with a neat little production number attached — a flex of exclusivity written right into the spec sheet. The M3 CS? Limited. The M4 CS? Counted. But Munich has since changed its tune. When it comes to the new M2 CS, built at BMW’s San Luis Potosí plant in Mexico, the company isn’t giving up the numbers game so easily.

Still, a few clues have emerged. In Japan, BMW confirmed that only 87 units will be sold locally — a neat coincidence given the car’s internal code name, G87. Globally, insiders whisper that fewer than 2,000 examples will be built, depending on demand. Production is set to wrap by July 2026, but as Sylvia Neubauer, BMW M’s Vice President of Customer, Brand, and Sales, told us earlier this year, there’s “huge demand” for this car. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. leads orders, followed by Germany and China — a predictable trifecta for the brand’s hottest compact coupe.

A Familiar Shape, Sharpened for Battle

At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, BMW displayed the M2 CS in Individual Velvet Blue, a show-stopping hue that looks equal parts luxury and lunacy under the lights. The color palette remains tasteful yet expressive — Sapphire Black, Brooklyn Grey, and M Portimao Blue complete the list — each set off by matte Gold Bronze forged wheels that look lifted straight from BMW’s heritage catalog.

The M2 CS isn’t a mere appearance package, of course. Under the hood lies the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six that powers the M3 and M4, but here it’s turned up to full track-day volume. Expect roughly 520 horsepower, channeled through either a six-speed manual or BMW’s excellent eight-speed automatic. Lightweight carbon-fiber panels, recalibrated suspension, and a diet of M Performance hardware make this CS the purest expression yet of the baby M car’s potential.

Exclusivity Comes at a Price

Japanese customers will pay ¥14,880,000 — about $97,000 before taxes or options like carbon-ceramic brakes or Individual paint. That’s a steep climb from the standard M2, but exclusivity doesn’t come cheap, and every M2 CS bound for Japan will be right-hand drive and track-ready out of the box. Deliveries begin next month.

The Story Isn’t Over

BMW M isn’t done with the G87 platform just yet. A Track Package is due next year, adding sharper aero and even lighter components. Rumors also point to an xDrive variant, a first for the M2, which could broaden the car’s appeal without diluting its character. And if history is any guide, there’s still one more step above CS: a CSL. Nothing’s confirmed, but M isn’t denying it either — and given the way this car has been received, we’d bet good money the “L” is already in the works.

For now, the M2 CS stands as a reminder of what BMW M does best: small car, big power, no nonsense. Whether it’s 87 units or 2,000, this might be the last of its kind — a gas-powered M car that blends analog charm with modern precision. And that alone makes it worth celebrating.

Source: BMW