autoevolution
 

If You Thought BMW’s M2 CS Was Cool, Manhart’s “MH2 GTR” Will Blow Your Mind

Have you been wondering how you could dominate the racetrack and look damn good while doing it? Manhart’s reworked Beemer might just be the solution.
MH2 GTR 16 photos
Photo: Manhart
MH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTRMH2 GTR
In our day and age, most self-respecting petrolheads will at least have heard about Germany’s Manhart Performance. Ever since Christoph Erfurt laid its foundation over three decades ago, the Wuppertal-based enterprise has been on a steady climb towards the top of Europe’s tuning food chain. As you browse the company's extensive range, it’s not exactly hard to see why these folks are among the nation's finest tuners.

We checked out Manhart’s inventory on several occasions to drool over some of their juiciest undertakings, such as a breathtaking Toyota Supra and a reworked Porsche 911 Turbo S that goes by the name of “TR850.”

Today, we’ll remind ourselves about the sheer level of craftmanship that’s at work on the workshop's premises by examining the “MH2 GTR,” essentially a BMW M2 CS on steroids. In stock form, the Bavarian coupe’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six powerplant is more than happy to supply as much as 444 hp at approximately 6,250 rpm and a ruthless torque output of up to 406 pound-feet (550 Nm) between 2,350 and 5,500 revs.

MH2 GTR
Photo: Manhart
A standard six-speed manual transmission distributes the engine’s force to the rear wheels, but an optional seven-speed automatic gearbox is also available. The latter will enable Bavaria’s beast to accelerate 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) in no more than four face-melting seconds.

Given the above characteristics, one might be inclined to think the M2 CS doesn’t need any surgical interventions to impress, but the auto gurus over at Manhart seem to disagree. Not only did the tuner enhance the machine’s aesthetics with a menacing body kit and tasty livery, it also fiddled with its powertrain to extract a considerable dose of additional power. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

First things first; the vehicle’s exterior is adorned with a set of beefy fender flares on the flanks and a carbon fiber spoiler at the rear. The new garments are appropriately complemented by a gorgeous wrap that bears the M-Power color trio, as well as an assortment of race-style decals found on the windshield, doors, and rear diffuser.

Inside, the custom magic continues with a pair of Recaro bucket seats and a carbon-clad shift knob. The factory display has been discarded to make room for a state-of-the-art alternative developed by Awron while a fresh steering wheel from Manhart’s catalog replaces the stock counterpart.

MH2 GTR
Photo: Manhart
The entire structure crawls on the company’s very own 20-inch Concave One rims, enveloped in high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber for ample grip. Furthermore, Wuppertal’s experts teamed up with H&R to bring about a considerable improvement in the suspension department.

However, the engine bay is where the real party’s at. By installing an upgraded turbocharger, a carbon fiber air intake, and a new intercooler, the crew managed to unleash 592 wild horses and 612 pound-feet (830 Nm) of monstrous twist at optimal rpm, which comes across as one astonishing feat in itself, if you ask me. The finishing touch comes in the form of a stainless-steel exhaust system that incorporates sport downpipes with 300-cell catalytic converters and as many as four 100 mm (about 4 inches) tailpipes.

For those of you who find the MH2 GTR as delicious as we do, I’ll have you know Manhart’s conversion pack is priced at €18,907 ($22,748 as per current exchange rates). What are your thoughts on this package?
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Silvian Secara
Silvian Secara profile photo

A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories