PH has already driven a modified M3 Touring, in the form of Litchfield’s 700hp demonstrator, and enjoyed it very much indeed. When a car is so eminently capable of handling such a prodigious amount of horsepower - while retaining all the inherent appeal of the original - it’s hard not to be won over. Especially when it’s on some nice wheels.
Now things get really serious, with Manhart’s latest BMW-based creation. The Black Beast (their name, not ours) is what happens when an M3 Touring gets a familiar ECU tickle for the twin-turbo 3.0-litre six as well as some serious hardware upgrades as well. Because anybody can get to 700hp from an S58, right? Now, thanks to forged pistons, forged conrods, a Wagner Tuning intercooler and a Remus exhaust, Manhart claims this is an 855hp M3. With 804lb ft as well. It’s enough to make a new M5 seem a bit puny, and more than 350hp over the standard version of a very fast car.
Manhart says the gearbox has been upgraded to cope, and is now capable of handling up to 1,300Nm (or a whopping 959lb ft) if required. There’s even mention of additional oomph ‘for whom the power on offer is not yet sufficient’, so it doesn’t seem like Manhart is done yet. Even if 855hp ought to be enough for most.
Additional tweaks for the MH3 800 include a smart carbon strut brace for a rigidity boost (not pictured yet), height-adjustable H&R springs and… well, that’s about it. Told you M3s were good at dealing with this power. The ceramic brakes are untouched, as are the standard dampers. Even big wheels aren’t drastically different to those offered by the factory, at 20-inch front and 21-inch rear. A smattering of carbon and champagne-coloured goodies complete the Manhart transformation. It says that five will be converted, and the car seen here is offered at €200k, or £167,000. Or about £100k more than the most affordable M3 Tourings currently out there. But then they might feel a tad slow by comparison.
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