Friday 16th February 2024

Manhart launches 'Thor' bodykit for BMW XM

BMW's flagship M car a bit too unassuming? You know who to call

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It’s a big weekend for the BMW XM, as it assumes safety car duties for the Bathurst 12 Hour. There’ll be no missing it, in two-tone gold and black with lights on the top. And almost the size of Mount Panorama itself. But in a weird twist of fate, it’s probably not the most outlandish black and gold BMW XM just being revealed to the world - because Manhart has got hold of one…

This is the Thor upgrade, which doesn’t touch the performance of the SUV at all (it does have at least 653hp, after all), but instead focuses on ‘the already martial appearance of the XM’. Does it ever. Available in forged or regular carbon, the Thor upgrade has given Manhart the ‘opportunity to push the boundaries further’ - so it’s wider, lower and even more, well, everything.

So there’s a spoiler for both the roof and the boot, a carbon panel between the lights plus ‘attachments’ for the bumper and diffuser back there. And that’s just one end. The side skirts are more than two metres long, and then there’s the front, which Manhart says ‘will attract many looks and give the XM a more muscular and dynamic appearance’. You don’t say.

Naturally, there’s carbon everywhere, with a new front spoiler, air intakes and further bumper attachments. But the big thing is the new bonnet, which Manhart says ‘inevitably evokes memories of the McLaren Senna’ thanks to the pair of power domes and extended central strut. It’s going to get everyone out of the way, that’s for sure. 

And Thor has TUV approval, so an XM like this could be used to clear the fast lane of an autobahn. Imagine seeing this come past at 150mph. Interestingly, everything that Mahart does is attached to the original BMW mounting parts, so anyone who changes their mind on the look (or damages it) can remove the parts easily and without any gunk left behind. No wonder the first production slots have already been allocated. 

This means Thor is now open to pre-orders for regular customers (those first allocations went to long-term Manhart customers). It’s priced at €36,000 in regular carbon or €40,000 for forged, and anyone who orders in the next four weeks will save ‘in the double-digit percentage range’ as part of the pre-sale promo. Can’t say fairer than that. Deliveries are expected in May. And would you look at that - there’s an ex-demo for sale, with £30k off the list price. Be rude not to make a Thor of it, really. 

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• 2023 BMW XM | PH Review
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[el romeral]

They keep trying!

[EV8]

I finally saw one in the flesh (standard, not Manharted), and I must admit, It looks menacing, even good from some angles. Much better, than on pictures. And it is massive. I wouldnt mind having one...
Those stripes are of course too much...

[Silvanus]

Mmmm nice, what's that phrase again about turds and glitter

[DoctorX]

Black appears to be the best colour for these as it hides a lot of detail. It's still horrendous though and this is just embarrassing.

[MayNine]

EV8 said:

I finally saw one in the flesh (standard, not Manharted), and I must admit, It looks menacing, even good from some angles. Much better, than on pictures. And it is massive. I wouldnt mind having one...
Those stripes are of course too much...

Same here, it does look better in the flesh. I don't like it, but it does look better. It is utterly huge though as you say, no idea how you'd park it in most towns and cities.

[Julian Scott]

EV8 said:

I finally saw one in the flesh (standard, not Manharted), and I must admit, It looks menacing, even good from some angles. Much better, than on pictures. And it is massive. I wouldnt mind having one...
Those stripes are of course too much...

I've seen few, all in unassuming colours & specs, and they are so much better in the flesh, huge presence with a soundtrack to match, and different to the standard dull eurobox designs.

It's not my bag, but its a hell of a car.

[Bladedancer]

I guess that's one way to try to work over your insecurities and self image issues.

[TGCOTF-dewey]

What happened to Gulzar?

I liked his Bentley thread.

[gruppeb86]

Phwoarrrr, thats for a real man is that.

[ScoobyChris]

DoctorX said:

Black appears to be the best colour for these as it hides a lot of detail. It's still horrendous though and this is just embarrassing.

Agreed - the yellow lines accentuating the grille do not help!

Chris

[Silvanus]

Julian Scott said:

EV8 said:

I finally saw one in the flesh (standard, not Manharted), and I must admit, It looks menacing, even good from some angles. Much better, than on pictures. And it is massive. I wouldnt mind having one...
Those stripes are of course too much...

I've seen few, all in unassuming colours & specs, and they are so much better in the flesh, huge presence with a soundtrack to match, and different to the standard dull eurobox designs.

It's not my bag, but its a hell of a car.

I thought the reviews for these were a mix of poor to average. What ever ones views are on large SUVs, you'd expect better from BMW.

[Tycho]

I've seen a couple of the normal XMs and they are fking horiffic yet somehow Manhart has managed to make it worse. Still looks like an Angry Pig from the front to me.

[CT05 Nose Cone]

MayNine said:

no idea how you'd park it in most towns and cities.

Usually by dumping it on the pavement or across a couple of disabled bays.

[Antony Moxey]

How can we make it look worse? I know, let's put yellow stripes on the really gash bits just to accentuate how gash it really is.

[Magikarp]

Christ, that's fking dismal.

[Julian Scott]

Silvanus said:

Julian Scott said:

EV8 said:

I finally saw one in the flesh (standard, not Manharted), and I must admit, It looks menacing, even good from some angles. Much better, than on pictures. And it is massive. I wouldnt mind having one...
Those stripes are of course too much...

I've seen few, all in unassuming colours & specs, and they are so much better in the flesh, huge presence with a soundtrack to match, and different to the standard dull eurobox designs.

It's not my bag, but its a hell of a car.

I thought the reviews for these were a mix of poor to average. What ever ones views are on large SUVs, you'd expect better from BMW.

Not sure, but I wasn't talking about reviews?

[s94wht]

They're taking the piss now, right?



I mean, just look at that. This HAS to be a joke. I bet they're laughing their arses off, just winding the absurdity up and up and seeing who still buys it.

[Julian Scott]

s94wht said:

They're taking the piss now, right?


I mean, just look at that. This HAS to be a joke. I bet they're laughing their arses off, just winding the absurdity up and up and seeing who still buys it.

Because Manhart are famous for their subtly and discretion?

[WPA]

Christ, that is awful

[EK9_CTR]

Is there a vehicle more fitting of a 4D gel "BOSS" plate than this?