MANHART GOES JDM AGAIN WITH THE MANHART SUPRA GR 550 - TASTY.
The renowned German tuner, Manhart, has earned its reputation by crafting some of the finest upgrade packages for a wide range of modern vehicles, with a particular focus on German brands—naturally. But their expertise doesn't stop at contemporary machines; they also have a dedicated division that excels in restomod projects, breathing new life into some of the most iconic classics. These builds seamlessly blend the best modern components and technologies with the most celebrated features of the original vehicles. This time around, Manhart has turned its attention to the new-generation Toyota GR Supra again, which is a surprise to us because we’re used to Manhart doing all the things to European cars. It’s interesting to see their take on a Japanese favourite for a second time. The GR Supra is already a formidable machine in its stock form, but when Manhart gets involved, the modifications can range from subtle tweaks to a full-scale transformation. In this case, it’s a bit of everything. Manhart's work on BMWs has consistently been exceptional, and with the GR Supra sharing a powerplant with BMW it just makes sense they’ve done this project. Manhart’s expertise isn’t limited to aesthetics. They also possess the technical know-how to enhance performance under the hood, safely extracting more power while ensuring reliability. Plus, they stand behind their work with a warranty. For those who prefer a hands-on approach, Manhart offers components that can be purchased separately and shipped worldwide, though mechanical modifications are best left to the pros. Still, there’s always someone like Junaid in Chatsworth who knows a guy with a workshop to handle the power upgrades. Every complete Manhart build commands a premium price, which is no surprise considering their focus on high-end vehicles and the top-tier quality of the components they use—often equal to or surpassing OEM standards. Ok, they have played with a Japanese car before, but that was the Supra too, but there’s been an improvement in the offerings.
MANHART says: So, the GR 550 presented here is not the first example of the GR Supra to be customized by our team. The front end of the sports car presented here is powered by BMW's B58 engine in the ex-works version with 250 kW. This is not only used in the Supra sister model Z4 but can also be found in other (M)40i models from the compact to the luxury class and large SUVs across the entire BMW model range. At the heart of our upgrade for the turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line 6 is the in-house turbo performance kit with turbo upgrade. In addition, a MANHART radiator kit with an aluminium charge pipe by Wagner Tuning and a MANHART carbon intake by ARMAspeed ensure that the engine always keeps a cool head and is supplied with oxygen-charged fresh air. This is rounded off by optimized software, either via the MHtronik powerbox (only 309 kW) or ECU remapping. All in all, this results in 405 kW and 770 Nm of maximum torque (standard: 500 Nm). Last but not least, the coupé has a MANHART stainless steel exhaust system made by FI Exhaust with valve control and four black 100 mm tailpipes for a powerful sound. They can be combined with either MANHART downpipes by HJS with ECE approval or MANHART sports downpipes with 300-cell HJS catalytic converters. However, the latter option does not have TÜV approval and is therefore only intended for export. The same naturally applies to the optional MANHART stainless steel OPF delete replacement pipes. We have also given the GR 550 an extensive visual makeover.” Here we see the addition of gloss black, 20-inch Concave One wheels mounted with H&R wheel spacers, a MANHART Variant 3 coilover suspension by KW, a carbon body kit comprised of a front spoiler, hood inserts, mirror caps and side skirts. Additionally, there’s a large wing, a diffuser and covers for the rear lights with things finished off with a MANHART trim set with red accents contrasting with the white vehicle paintwork in black. The interior and the brake system are still stock items.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the crew at Automotive PR World as they take you through a rundown of the changes to the latest iteration of the MANHART GR Supra. These European specialists are equally adept at fiddling with the Japanese stuff - nice: Manhart’s 542 HP Toyota GR Supra | Automotive World PR
Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!