What are some of the manufacturers' official tuning divisions
- Thread starter regoon
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///M-Spec
Staff Emeritus
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Actually, I would not consider BMW M a "tuning division". They don't really fit the mold of what a traditional tuner does anymore.
A tuner makes parts for existing mainstream cars. They market, sell and sometimes fit the parts directly onto the vehicle.
BMW M makes whole cars. They do not sell individual performance parts (you can get cosmetic parts through M Individual, which is a part of BMW M). But you can't go to a BMW dealer and say "order me a set of M series cams for my 525i" or "I want the entire suspension from an M3 for my 335i". They don't do that. Mostly because the parts won't work on these cars. But also because they want to sell you an M3 and not parts for your 335i (sort of... more on that later).
BMW M has manufacturer status in Germany. M cars have their own VIN prefix distinctly separate from mainstream BMWs and the placard on the door jamb says "BMW M GmbH" not "BMW AG".
So if there is no parts catalog, and the average consumer can't buy the bits and pieces without buying a whole car, can you really consider them a "tuner"?
There comes a point when these cars become so different from the original donor car, it is no longer tuning. It's building.
To complicate matters, BMW has recently started a "BMW Performance" line of branded performance parts. Typical stuff like springs, exhaust, etc. I don't know if they are engineer by the M Division, but I would suspect this is the case.
To varying degrees, I believe most of this also applies to AMG and quattro as well.
M
A tuner makes parts for existing mainstream cars. They market, sell and sometimes fit the parts directly onto the vehicle.
BMW M makes whole cars. They do not sell individual performance parts (you can get cosmetic parts through M Individual, which is a part of BMW M). But you can't go to a BMW dealer and say "order me a set of M series cams for my 525i" or "I want the entire suspension from an M3 for my 335i". They don't do that. Mostly because the parts won't work on these cars. But also because they want to sell you an M3 and not parts for your 335i (sort of... more on that later).
BMW M has manufacturer status in Germany. M cars have their own VIN prefix distinctly separate from mainstream BMWs and the placard on the door jamb says "BMW M GmbH" not "BMW AG".
So if there is no parts catalog, and the average consumer can't buy the bits and pieces without buying a whole car, can you really consider them a "tuner"?
There comes a point when these cars become so different from the original donor car, it is no longer tuning. It's building.
To complicate matters, BMW has recently started a "BMW Performance" line of branded performance parts. Typical stuff like springs, exhaust, etc. I don't know if they are engineer by the M Division, but I would suspect this is the case.
To varying degrees, I believe most of this also applies to AMG and quattro as well.
M
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
Ford > Ford Racing (aftermarket parts and complete race cars)
Fiat > Abarth
Audi > RS Gmbh. (Supposedly. I feel the seperate company was formed to make it seem like more than a trim level.)
Holden > HSV
Daihatsu > Daihatsu Racing Service
Mitsubishi > Ralliart
Subaru > STi
Suzuki > Suzukisport
Marques which manufacturers would like you to think are in-house tuners, but are really trim levels.
Lexus > F
Cadillac > V-line
Fiat > Abarth
Audi > RS Gmbh. (Supposedly. I feel the seperate company was formed to make it seem like more than a trim level.)
Holden > HSV
Daihatsu > Daihatsu Racing Service
Mitsubishi > Ralliart
Subaru > STi
Suzuki > Suzukisport
Marques which manufacturers would like you to think are in-house tuners, but are really trim levels.
Lexus > F
Cadillac > V-line
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- 9,089
- Scotland
Motorsport division not a tuner,they just give their name to parts.
- 10,620
- gtp_jimprower
Difference?
///M-Spec
Staff Emeritus
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It is called "quattro GmbH" (note lower case spelling), not RS. They operate a separate production facility at Neckarsulm, where all the RS cars except for the TT-RS are built.
M
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
Pretty much all here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Official_motorsport_and_performance_division_of_automakers
Though some of those are just racing teams.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Official_motorsport_and_performance_division_of_automakers
Though some of those are just racing teams.
- 274
Vauxhall - VXR/VX Racing
Opel - Opel Performance Center
Both have Irmscher, though it's not an in-house brand.
Opel - Opel Performance Center
Both have Irmscher, though it's not an in-house brand.
- 10,373
- Manchester
- Ardius_
VXR is just a brand name for a trim.
VX Racing (otherwise known as Triple 8 Engineering) is/was just a race team.
Neither are tuning companies.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Here is a fancy list, as best as I can recall...
General Motors
What was formerly known as GMPD, GM Performance Division
Brands listed in bold still exist, but responsibility for product development has been rolled back into the respective companies from the loss of GMPD. It is important to note that GM has changed the definition of some of these as well, specially the Chevrolet SS brand, which will only go to legitimate high performance options once again. The Cadillac Platinum series is new as well, and will operate more like the Vanden Plas and Alpina brands for Jaguar and BMW respectively.
There are also the global performance arms...
Chrysler-FIAT
Ford Motor Company
I'm not sure if there is a dedicated performance arm for the Ford Europe vehicles. They've done a fair number of ST and RS vehicles, but I don't know if you can really call it a tuning arm or not.
Ze Germans
Japanese
Part of the problem with the Japanese companies is that one day they're independent, then they're owned/operated by the company, then they exist, and then they don't - all with little to no fanfare.
France
That's about all I can think of. The only other specialty arms I can think of are Jaguar's R-brand and MINI's John Cooper Works program.
General Motors
What was formerly known as GMPD, GM Performance Division
- Chevrolet --> SS Brand
- Saturn --> Red Line Brand
- Pontiac --> GXP Brand
- Buick --> Super Brand
- GMC --> Denali Brand
- Cadillac --> V-Series Brand
- Cadillac --> Platinum Series
- HUMMER --> Alpha Series
- GM High Performance Parts (OEM parts supplier)
Brands listed in bold still exist, but responsibility for product development has been rolled back into the respective companies from the loss of GMPD. It is important to note that GM has changed the definition of some of these as well, specially the Chevrolet SS brand, which will only go to legitimate high performance options once again. The Cadillac Platinum series is new as well, and will operate more like the Vanden Plas and Alpina brands for Jaguar and BMW respectively.
There are also the global performance arms...
- Vauxhall --> VXR Line
- Opel ---> OPC Line
- Holden --> HSV (Holden Special Vehicles)
Chrysler-FIAT
- Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep --> SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Brand
- MOPAR performance parts (OEM parts supplier)
- FIAT --> Abarth brand
Ford Motor Company
- Ford (North America) --> SVT (Special Vehicles Team)
- Ford Racing (OEM parts supplier)
- Shelby High Performance --> Performance partner with the GT500KR, Shelby GT, etc
- Ford (Australia) --> FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles)
I'm not sure if there is a dedicated performance arm for the Ford Europe vehicles. They've done a fair number of ST and RS vehicles, but I don't know if you can really call it a tuning arm or not.
Ze Germans
- BMW --> BMW Motorsports M-Division
- Mercedes-Benz --> AMG Performance Group
- Audi --> S-line (mostly cosmetic), S-brand (middle performance), RS-brand (high performance)
- Volkswagen --> R-line (mostly cosmetic), R-brand (high performance)
Japanese
- Honda --> Mugen,
HPV (Honda Performance Vehicles? Mostly cosmetic)HFP (Honda Factory Performance, cosmetic pieces and some go-fast goodies... Thanks Eric.) - Toyota --> TRD (Toyota Racing Development), which I believe is now defunct EDIT: It is, but only in Australia
- Scion --> See TRD
- Lexus --> F-brand, there was another tuning arm before that, but I can't remember what the name was
- Nissan --> NISMO
- Mitsubishi --> Ralliart (brand?)
- Acura --> The S-brand (now defunct, I believe)
- Mazda --> Mazdaspeed Brand (now defunct?)
Part of the problem with the Japanese companies is that one day they're independent, then they're owned/operated by the company, then they exist, and then they don't - all with little to no fanfare.
France
- Renault --> Renaultsport
That's about all I can think of. The only other specialty arms I can think of are Jaguar's R-brand and MINI's John Cooper Works program.
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Eric.
Premium
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- GTP_Eric
- Ebiggs
Honda will sell you upgrades sold as "HFP - Honda Factory Performance". For my car that ranges from a slotted rotor and upgraded brake pad package, a better suspension, 17" or 18" wheels, an axleback exhaust (virtually no power gain, just louder), and a lip kit. I believe that's it.
Unless they've just stopped in the last year, I thought TRD was still alive too because they are responsible for a ton of parts for Scions, have a supercharger package for the Tundra (maybe some more aggressive suspension?), and so forth. I'm checking now...Yep, looks like they are still up. On the Tundra there is a TRD suspension package, and further along the build you get the chance for TRD air filter (looks like a drop in replacement), TRD air intake (short ram basically), rear sway bar, and to top it all off, an oil cap.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
I knew I was going to get the Honda one wrong. The letters all sound the same when you say them in your head. I've only seen a couple of HFP cars though. The local Honda dealer had an HFP Accord EX V6 a while back (which was awesome), and had a HFP Fit Sport too (which was odd). They seem to do a pretty good job of making halfway decent vehicles, but not for the kind of money they charge.
...As for TRD, this is why I was confused:
TRD Dead Down Under
Their Australian operations have shut down, which was arguably the most-legit group of TRD performance vehicles to begin with. Unfortunate nevertheless.
...As for TRD, this is why I was confused:
TRD Dead Down Under
Their Australian operations have shut down, which was arguably the most-legit group of TRD performance vehicles to begin with. Unfortunate nevertheless.
Eric.
Premium
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- GTP_Eric
- Ebiggs
Interesting about the HFP cars...Did the dealer just put every HFP accessory on them and call them as such? I've never heard of an actual HFP trim/package. The parts for my car are extremely well priced. www.collegehillshonda.com has been a great dealer for the 8th Gen Civic community (and Honda owners in general) by providing nearly anything you want for these cars, HFP or OEM, online and at really cheap prices. The full lip kit is about a grand, the brake upgrade is $550. The suspension (which is said to be nearly the best you can get, but it only drops about 0.8") is about $600 for whatever reason..it was down to $400 for a while and could probably be haggled for that still. And $150ea for the 18" wheels.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
Seems like the car's window sticker said HFP Accord, but that was many summers ago. Everything was on that Accord, and it looked really nice. The price was a bit too high though, that's what I remember thinking. The Fit... It just looked like it was trying too hard to be cool. That, and the extra price of everything on the car. It was all too much.
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- race_emhard
Mercedes-Benz > Brabus. Their resume include some fearsome monsters like this.
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