The Champions League of the European tuning scene is coming to the Ruhr region: more than 150 private owners will be presenting their elaborately tuned vehicles to fans at the Essen Motor Show from November 30 to December 8 (Preview Day: November 29) at Messe Essen. The venue is the tuningXperience in Hall 5 of the car festival, which brings together a total of around 500 exhibitors in nine halls. The private exhibitors in the tuningXperience come from twelve nations and are among the best tuners in Europe. At the same time, their vehicles, some of which have won awards, serve as a trend barometer for future developments.
One trend in this year's tuningXperience line-up is clearly the widebody theme. Organizer Sven Schulz explains: "We have a large number of widebody vehicles here. The spectrum ranges from visibly bolted-on wideners with a motorsport look through to perfectly painted body kits for a clean and seamless look. The trend towards more width affects classic cars as well as current models." Widened versions of the BMW E46, Honda Prelude MK1, Ford Mustang GT 5.0 and Lamborghini Huracán, among others, will attract fans to Essen.
Tuned motorhome delights camping fans
One feature of tuningXperience is its diversity, which also includes a number of very rare vehicles. This year's rarities include, for example, the Fiat 126, Nissan Pao, Skoda 120G, Tofaş Dogan SLX and Volvo 242 models. The highlights also include a tuned Weinsberg X-Cursion Van 500 MQ motorhome, which shows that camping and tuning harmonize perfectly. Also worth seeing is a raised Dodge Ram 1500, which exudes genuine US flair at the Essen Motor Show. Massively raised chassis have long been a trend in the USA, but in Europe they are (still) a specialty.
It's a simple calculation: every year, the number of vehicles that achieve classic status increases. The tuning scene is not immune to this development either, as more and more tuners are opting for a classic vehicle as their base model. One of many advantages: No read-out devices or computers are required for wrenching, and the conversion can often be done in your own garage. For those who value history, tuningXperience features cars such as the Audi 100L, BMW E21, Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign, Lancia Delta Integrale EVO 2, Opel Kadett C Coupé "Rallye", VW Golf 1 GTI, VW Type 3 and VW T2a platform truck. Mercedes fans can also look forward to tuned versions of the SL350 (R107), 190E and 230SL "Pagoda" (W113) models.
Dreamland Japan
With the vehicles from Asia and especially Japan in the tuningXperience, you could put on your own special show. Models from manufacturers such as Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota are very popular in the tuning scene. This is partly due to the rarity value of some vehicles and partly to the fact that Asian cars offer a lot of performance and fun for often reasonable money. Examples at the Essen Motor Show 2024 include the Honda S2000, Mazda RX-7, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, Nissan Skyline R34, Nissan Silvia S15, Toyota Century V12 and Toyota Supra.
In addition, tuningXperience will be presenting numerous other vehicle types, from volume models and sports cars to sustainably powered models such as the Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model Y and VW ID Buzz. The oldest model in Hall 5 is a GMC AFKWX 353 from 1944 - its owner has converted the former US Army truck into a drag racer. At the other end of the timeline is a BMW M2 from 2024.
Tickets for the EMS are now available online
Around 500 exhibitors will be presenting everything to do with performance & racing, tuning & lifestyle, motorsport and classic cars in nine halls at the upcoming Essen Motor Show. Tickets for the colorful festival for car fans are available in the online store at www.essen-motorshow.de, a regular day ticket costs 20 euros. The Essen Motor Show opens on Preview Day (November 29) and at weekends from 9 am to 6 pm, during the week from 10 am to 6 pm.
Plan your visit to the trade fair!
