BMW E46 M3: Phoenix Rising

Few cars distil the joy of driving quite like the BMW E46 M3, and seeing this Phoenix Yellow example in the metal at the Essen Motor Show only reinforced its legend. Surrounded by wild show cars and modern exotica, it stood out by doing something far more difficult: being tasteful. This is OEM+ philosophy executed with restraint, confidence and a deep understanding of what made the E46 so special in the first place.

Under the bonnet sits BMW’s revered S54 straight-six, producing 333hp and mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. It remains one of the greatest naturally aspirated engines ever fitted to a road car, delivering its performance with razor-sharp throttle response and a spine-tingling soundtrack that modern turbo units can only dream of replicating. This is the beating heart of the car, and it needs no reinvention.

The stance has been subtly modernised with an Airlift Performance air suspension system using 3P management. Crucially, it’s set up with predefined pressure limits rather than extreme lowering, preserving drivability and protecting the chassis. Beneath the skin, Powerflex bushings and adjustable rear arms sharpen the handling, while a Supersprint stainless steel race system with twin 80mm tips ensures the car sounds every bit as serious as it looks.

Koenigsegg Jesko: Ultimate Hypercar Up Close

I have seen the Koenigsegg Jesko in real life before, but never from this close. Its intensity is something else. While visiting the Pace Museum I had the opportunity to spend some time with the car alone before other visitors came in. I spent a good while photographing every angle of the Koenigsegg Jesko Attack, peering into details that go way beyond just head-turning looks.

But let’s start with the facts. The Jesko’s 5.0‑litre twin‑turbocharged V8 is both brutal and refined, producing 1,280 hp on pump fuel and an astounding 1,600 hp on E85, supplemented by up to 1,500 Nm of torque at 5,100 rpm. At the heart of the car is the revolutionary nine‑speed Light Speed Transmission (LST), a marvel of engineering that uses seven multi‑disc clutches to allow instantaneous gear shifts between any ratio, no sequential lag, just seamless ferocity.

Volkswagen Brasilia: A 1974 Icon from Sweden

When you think of Brasilia, you probably picture the Copacabana, the giant Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro, and tiny bikinis. But the Volkswagen Brasilia rarely tops my list of Brazilian trivia. Yet this 1974 example flips that perception on its head. Unfortunately, I didn’t find this example on the beaches of Brazil but inside the Tuning Experience hall at the Essen Motor Show.

The VW Brasilia itself is a fascinating chapter in VW history. Born in 1973 as Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in Brazil, answer to the Beetle’s limitations. It was designed to offer more space and modern styling while keeping the beloved air-cooled simplicity.

Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R Tuning Masterpiece

The Essen Motor Show has always been a playground for automotive dreams, but this year one car stole the spotlight. There are cars that define an era, and then there’s the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, a machine so iconic it’s practically our halo car. But what happens when you take one of these legends and decide to tear it down to its bones, rebuild it better than new, and do it all in just fifty days? That’s the madness that unfolded inside the JP Performance workshop leading up to the Essen Motor Show.

The story begins with a car that’s seen more stamps in its passport than most people. It cruised through Tokyo, sat in an Australian shop, and then spent months in limbo before finally arriving in Europe. The plan was simple on paper: restore, repaint, and reassemble the R34 to perfection in time for the Essen Motor Show. In reality, it was a high-wire act with no safety net.

Renault Espace F1: The Ultimate Racing Van

Back in the mid-90s, Renault decided that celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Espace MPV wasn’t enough with balloons and cake. No, they wanted fireworks, so they built a minivan with the heart of a Formula One car. The result was the Espace F1, a machine so outrageous it still feels like a fever dream.

This wasn’t a tuned-up people carrier. Underneath its carbon-fiber body panels sat a bespoke monocoque chassis and, bolted in the middle, a 3.5-litre Renault RS5 V10 engine straight out of the Williams FW15C that dominated the 1993 F1 season. That meant nearly 800 horsepower screaming to 14,000 rpm, funneled through a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox to the rear wheels. Forget school runs, this thing could hit 100 km/h in under three seconds and top out at over 310 km/h. In a van.

The interior was just as mad. Four racing buckets, the engine visible through clear panels behind the rear seats, and absolutely no concessions to comfort. It was a family car only in the sense that four people could technically fit inside, if they didn’t mind sitting next to a V10 with ear plugs in…

Falken Mercedes EVO II Dominates Essen Show

This year’s Essen Motor Show didn’t disappoint. Among the new kids on the block and the usual suspects, one car stood out like a neon sign in a sea of chrome: a jaw-dropping Mercedes-Benz 190E that’s been making waves online for months. So now I finally had the possibility to take a closer look at this build and see all the details that make this car special.

The starting point was a humble 1991 190E. But owner Nic Stubbs didn’t just restore it, he transformed it into a full-blown EVO II tribute, complete with the iconic Falken livery. Under the bonnet sits a snarling V8 M113 engine, nestled in a meticulously cleaned and painted bay.

Suspension? Air ride, of course, paired with adjustable XLO dampers, camber tops, bespoke air bags, and custom control arms. The trunk houses the compressor and air tank in a show-ready install.

JP Performance Rauh Welt Begriff Porsche 911

You don’t just build an RWB Porsche. You join a waiting list, whisper your intent to the gods of speed, sacrifice a set of factory fenders, and prepare for the arrival of the high priest himself: Akira Nakai-san.

In 2019, German car enthusiast and TV personality JP Kraemer experienced this transformation firsthand. His Porsche 911 Carrera 4 (964), a base model that needed a lot of work, was reborn into a tire-shredding, street-slaying beast. Under the hands of Nakai-san, who flew in from Japan armed with nothing but a cutting wheel, a pack of his favorite Winston cigarettes, and a vision.

The metamorphosis starts with the signature Rauh-Welt Begriff widebody kit. Nakai-san works with surgical precision, chain-smoking and vibing to punk rock as he bolts on the flared fenders that define RWB’s unmistakable silhouette.

The Lighter, Meaner, Faster Mercedes EVO II

Some cars are rare. Some cars are special. And then there’s this: number 23 out of just 502 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16v EVO IIs ever made. But before you start polishing your monocle and muttering about “investment grade classics,” let’s get one thing straight this isn’t just any EVO II. This is the EVO II that snuck out of the factory, hit the gym, and came back 300kg lighter than its siblings.

While the standard EVO II tips the scales at 1,340kg, this one weighs in at a featherweight 1,030kg. How? By going full track-day hero: the interior has been stripped bare, leaving only two racing bucket seats and a roll cage. No plush carpets. No sound deadening. No back seats for your friends. Just pure, unfiltered motorsport.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t a show pony for concours lawns or a garage queen waiting for the next auction. This is a car built to be driven hard. Forget about investment portfolios and collector bragging rights. This EVO II is a full-on track tool, engineered for apexes and adrenaline, not velvet ropes and champagne.