When Speedhunters started back in 2008, my mission was to cover as much European car culture as possible. One of the first events I covered that year was the particular Essen Motor Show, held at the Messe Essen exhibition center in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany. I’ve attended the show every year since (except 2020, of course) and while a lot has changed in almost a decade plus a half,   the passion around Essen has remained constant.

But what is the particular Essen Engine Show? I think the best way to describe it is that it’s a mix between a trade display and a car show. There is something for everyone, from youngtimers to the latest hypercars. You can even buy that special tool for your car or a scale model. I managed to bag two Liberty Walk Hot Wheels for my collection.

But in the end it is all about the cars. The TuningXperience hall is full associated with handpicked cars that showcase the latest trends. Most of these builds are privately owned, and built by the owners themselves. Then there are the halls  dedicated to tuning brands, that will showcase demo cars fitted with the newest parts. Over the course of this post and the second instalment, I’ll be sharing with you some of the standouts. Let’s get started…

An Essen highlight every year  – plus something  that  seems to be getting bigger and bigger – is the particular JP Performance stand. ‘JP’ stands for Jean Pierre (Kraemer),   JP Performance’s  owner and  Germany’s  biggest automotive YouTuber. 1 of the cars I was  really  excited to see was this pink 911 nicknamed Flamingo, built from the particular ground up by AP Car Design in Göttingen. A key objective with regard to the build was light weight, and with the 964 tipping the scales at just 983kg (2, 167lb), I think they more than succeeded.

Some cars are made from unobtamium, so the next best thing is a replica. CN Racing from Philippines built this particular Porsche 917 homage upward from the original drawings, but have incorporated a whole lot associated with new  tech to vastly improve it. It will be easier in order to drive than the original thanks to a 3. 6-liter engine from a Porsche 993 Turbo, but is certain to still be the handful because of its power-to-weight ratio of 600ps-to-820kg (1, 807lb).

Essen had no shortage of BBBs (Big Body Benzes) this year, and you can always count on Levella adding to the mix. One associated with Levella’s cars was this particular 560 SEC  fitted along with their own  Retroline wheels, the R2 model in this case.

Another Revella Mercedes-Benz receiving  a great deal of attention was this W124 E-Class, fitted with R4 Retroline wheels. Under the hood is a  6. 0-liter V8 from an E60 AMG.

Fitting big engines into small cars never gets old, and here’s the proprietor of this particular stunning VW Golf  explaining to some  enthusiasts how he put the particular Mk1 together. You may have noticed the big V6 lump within the motor bay; this one came through an Audi,   along with the entire drivetrain including 6-speed DSG gearbox. The tires started life as 15-inch BBS RAs,   but have been converted to 3-piece  with 17-inch barrels.

We kept coming back  to this E36 BMW time plus time again. Perfect paintwork and a perfectly-fitted set of BBS wheels really set this apart.

This Ferrari Testarossa from Top Secret Tuning has experienced the full Freedom Walk treatment and sits on its skirts thanks to Prazis air suspension with Air Lift Overall performance 3P management.

Of all the VOLKS WAGEN Golfs, the particular Mk4 will be my  favorite, and this one is a beauty.   Underneath the hood is a fully-built 3. 2-liter R32 engine with ‘stage 3′ supercharging good for 400ps, and it rests on 2-piece BBS Le Mans wheels in  a good 18-inch fitment.

Given the value of R34 Nissan Skyline GT-Rs these days, it’s always refreshing to come across the modified version that sees  regular road use. I’m sure this – sitting pretty on 19-inch Work Meister S1 3P tires – is a lot of fun to drive too – 600ps (thanks in part in order to a Tomei 2. 8L stroker kit) on 16psi boost pressure ensures that.

This particular BMW E9 has been  doing the rounds for several years, yet the guys at Qualitatief are always changing it up to keep the vehicle relevant. In the past  we’ve see  the  coupé completely blacked out, but I’m glad to see they’ve returned to a more traditional look with almost all the chrome parts.

When I first laid eyes on the new THE CAR M2, I was on fence  with regard to the square design. But seeing  the car in  person changed the mind; this looks way better when it’s seated right in front of you.

It’s hard to beat a classic Euro appear, and this particular Mk4 Golf proves it with a clean exterior,   massive drop and a set of 19-inch BBS GT004 wheels. Some say it is easy, yet to obtain the perfect fitment takes dedication and  plenty of  trial and error.

You don’t see many Opel Oscanas around these days, as most have rotted away. Of all the survivors, this Ascona B must surely be one of the best. The vehicle has received a full nut and bolt restoration along with a 2 . 0L engine upon Weber carburetors at its heart, Koni shocks plus Mantzel springs, and classic Schmidt  wheels in 16-inch sizing.

This Typ 89  Audi Coupe looks wild wearing a wide-body kit from Prior Style, of which only 40 have been released to the particular market. The particular Audi is usually powered simply by a second . 6L V6 motor and rides on KW V3  coilover suspension with a front  lift system.

I got a nice surprise  whenever I saw this Midnight Purple III R34 Skyline GT-R on the Chrome Cars stand.   It’s something extra special too, having been previously  rebuilt at Nissan’s famed Omori Factory to full Clubman Race Spec.

What’s better than a Porsche 992 GT3? A Porsche 992 GT3 MR with just about all the latest  Manthey Race upgrades  and 4-way adjustable KW coilovers. Absolutely gorgeous.

This is definitely not your  average Peugeot 206. It all starts with a full WRC-inspired wide-body kit plus 18-inch  Excalibur wheels, but when the hood is definitely open it’s hard in order to look past the  3. 0L V-6 engine complete with Garrett GTX3582R turbo.

This particular Audi RS4 belongs to German YouTuber Philipp Kaess, and features full carbon fiber bodywork amongst many other upgrades.

The 1982 VW Golf GTI 16 S Oettinger  provides the base for this particular ultra-clean build. It’s powered by a 1. 8-litre  Oettinger engine along with plenty of additional enhancements, Gepfeffert KW V3  suspension and genuine BBS E19 magnesium wheels.

We’ll finish up  this awesome article with another Golfing and another build through the JP Performance stable.   JP’s Mk7  ‘Super Golf’ has gone from silver with orange accents for this white plus rainbow edition, but under the skin is still absolutely nuts.

Stay tuned for more from the 2022 Essen Electric motor Show!

Jeroen Willemsen
Instagram:   jaccojeroen