Manhart Thinks BMW's M5 Touring Is Weak, Turns It Up To 900

 German performance tuner Manhart feels very strongly that it isn't enough, and it hopes that potential M5 buyers will feel the same way. It has just launched its solution, in the form of the 898 hp Manhart MH5 900E.

New Turbos, Exhaust Make Massive Difference

Manhart starts its 900E process with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo S68 V8 under the hood. It starts tossing factory parts and adding its own, including two new upgraded turbochargers and its own MHtronik powerbox engine tuning module.

The upgrades don't stop there, though. It also gets Manhart's race downpipes, though they're for "export only" (wink) to flow more air to the stainless steel exhaust. That exhaust has valve control to let you adjust the sound, and four matte black tailpipes that each measure a honking 4.5 inches.

All that work means a massive power figure. Horsepower climbs 181 hp from 717 hp to 898, while torque rises from 738 to 885 pound-feet. Since Manhart doesn't play with the electric motor, all of this increase comes from the engine. That puts the V8 at 758 hp all by itself, beating the standard M5's all-in figure.

More power means the dynamics changes, and Manhart offers two chassis choices. Buyers can get a fixed-height system with H&R lowering springs or a KW Suspensions V4 system that offers adjustable ride height, external reservoirs, and adjustment for rebound and both high and low-speed compression. The brakes are standard, but Manhart has options if you want them.

That's Not A Body Kit

Manhart normally adds some new body panels like new bumpers to help clean up the stance and make the car look more aggressive. Not this time, though. It said that the M5 "already has an exceptionally muscular appearance straight from the factory." So the only exterior changes are the gold decals and the company's Concave One wheels with bigger tires.

Manhart didn't leave the cabin untouched either. It has added its own floor mats, and ditched BMW's standard headliner for one made from Alcantara for a more luxurious feel.

Is this the most powerful station wagon in the world? Surprisingly, it's not. Porsche is the automaker that wears that crown, though it comes with an asterisk. It's also an electric vehicle, in the form of the Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo. That one makes 938 hp, but only for a few seconds at a time using the overboost feature. And then there's the Chinese Zeekr 001 FR, an electric wagon with 1,300 hp on tap, with a chassis tuned by F1 champion Kimi Raikonnen.

Manhart makes the M5 Touring even more of a monster than the team at BMW M, and it did it without turning it into some sort of hideous monster (we're looking at you, Mansory). The Trans Am-style colorway isn't going to be to everyone's tastes, but the company can do it differently for you. We'd take it this way, but drop the windshield banner. It's a bit much.

Speaking of a bit much, what about the price? Manhart didn't say, but it was asking 220,000 euro ($254,000) for the sedan. We don't know what options it had, but that's about 75,000 euros ($87,000) more than a base model from BMW.