Have you ever looked at vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz V-Class and thought they needed a more aggressive makeover? Probably not, but there is a vast market for such tuned rides, one that has grown to include the minivan pictured below.
Installed by Manhart, it features a new body kit that came from TopCar. Dubbed the Inferno, its purpose is to make the Mercedes V-Class look like an older AMG. As a result, it includes add-ons all around and additional LED lighting units.
Up front, it gets a new bumper with a honeycomb pattern for the air intake. A chin spoiler was attached to the lower end, and the two power domes on the hood and fresh grille contribute to the redesign. The LED DRLs mounted below the main clusters complete the styling.
At the sides, Manhart gave the V-Class fender extensions and new skirts. Moreover, the rear fascia has received a new diffuser with an integrated central part shaped to resemble the honeycomb pattern of the intakes of the front end. All components were made of carbon fiber, and to better blend in with the styling of the people carrier, some of them were painted in the same color as the rest of the exterior and others in glossy black.
Photo: Manhart
The wheels also came from the aftermarket world and were installed by the owner before the vehicle arrived at Manhart. They measure 9x20 inches at both axles, and they have more concavity at the rear. For improved alignment under the fenders, a lowering kit consisting of new H&R springs was installed, shaving 25 mm (1 in) from the ground clearance.
Even though the exhaust system has remained untouched, this V-Class features a new tailpipe trim inspired by real AMGs. The brakes can be upgraded on request, and the engine was given a small power boost. It is a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel that originally made 239 ps (236 hp/176 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque. According to Manhart, the lump is now good for 280 ps (276 hp/206 kW) and 575 Nm (424 lb-ft).
There are no references to the performance numbers, but then again, we are looking at a comfortable minivan with a low-revving mill under the hood, which is not exactly a record break. Nonetheless, its overtaking abilities have certainly been improved, so the power boost was a nice way to round off the upgrades.
Speaking of which, you are probably curious about how much everything costs. Unfortunately, the tuner hasn't released any pricing details, so you are going to have to reach out to them if you're planning on making your V-Class look like this. Don't forget to drop a line below and tell us how much everything is.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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