Mansory Looked at Honda: When Japanese Practicality Meets German Excess

Luxury car tuning is often about pushing boundaries—more power, more carbon fiber, more controversy. Few names embody this philosophy better than Mansory, the German tuning house famous for transforming already expensive cars into rolling statements of excess. Yet, in a surprising twist, Mansory recently admitted to looking at Honda for inspiration before unveiling its latest BMW M5 project.

This revelation raises eyebrows. Honda, after all, is a brand associated with reliability, practicality, and understated engineering excellence. Mansory, on the other hand, thrives on flamboyance, aggressive styling, and performance upgrades that often polarize enthusiasts. So what happens when these two worlds collide? Let’s dive into the story.

🚗 Honda’s Influence: The Unexpected Spark

Honda has long been admired for its engineering discipline. From the Civic Type R to the NSX, the Japanese automaker has proven that performance doesn’t always require brute force—it can be achieved through precision, balance, and clever design.

Mansory reportedly looked at Honda’s approach to functional design and decided to reinterpret it in their own language of excess. Where Honda uses subtle aerodynamic tweaks to improve efficiency, Mansory exaggerated those cues into bold carbon-fiber wings, scoops, and diffusers. The tuner essentially asked: What if Honda’s practicality was dialed up to eleven?

🏎️ The BMW M5 Transformation

The result of this inspiration was Mansory’s latest BMW M5 super sedan. Already a powerhouse in stock form, the M5 received:

• Power upgrades: Mansory boosted the twin-turbo V8 to deliver even more horsepower, turning the sedan into a near-supercar.
• Carbon fiber overload: Inspired by Honda’s restrained aero, Mansory went full throttle with aggressive carbon panels, spoilers, and diffusers.
• Controversial styling: True to form, the tuner’s design sparked debate—some praised the boldness, others felt it was too over-the-top.

This project demonstrates Mansory’s philosophy: restraint is not part of their vocabulary.

⚖️ Honda vs. Mansory Philosophy

Aspect	Honda	Mansory
Design Approach	Subtle, functional, efficiency-focused	Bold, aggressive, attention-grabbing
Performance	Balanced, precise, often lightweight	Extreme horsepower, brute force
Target Audience	Everyday drivers, enthusiasts	Luxury buyers, collectors, statement-makers
Philosophy	Reliability + practicality	Excess + exclusivity

🌍 Why This Matters

The fact that Mansory looked at Honda shows how cross-pollination in automotive design is alive and well. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always come from within the luxury segment. Sometimes, inspiration comes from brands that prioritize everyday usability.

For enthusiasts, this is fascinating because it bridges two extremes:

• Honda’s accessible performance philosophy.
• Mansory’s luxury excess.

Together, they create a dialogue about what cars should be: practical machines or rolling art pieces.

🔥 The Controversy Factor

Mansory thrives on controversy. Their builds often split opinion, and this M5 is no exception. Critics argue that Honda’s understated design language was lost in translation, replaced by Mansory’s trademark flamboyance. Supporters, however, see it as a bold reinterpretation—a way of celebrating Honda’s influence while staying true to Mansory’s DNA.