BMW’s latest styling shift has sparked debate amongst fans loyal to the German automaker. Whereas this new design language is slowly successful over some, others stay firmly against it. However not Studie AG. The Japanese BMW specialist has wholeheartedly embraced the styling evolution.
For these unfamiliar, Studie, a Yokohama-based tuning store based in 1995, initially gained recognition as a BMW components specialist, specializing in the most recent fashions at any given time. Right this moment, Studie’s operations prolong throughout Japan, with branches in Sendai, Kobe, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Hokkaido, and Nagoya. Moreover, the corporate runs the official BMW racing staff in Japan’s Tremendous GT touring automobile championship. Suffice it to say, Studie has develop into a cornerstone of Japan’s BMW tradition.
With its roots in motorsport, Studie caters not solely to modification fans but additionally to purists. Every of the store’s demo automobiles options various levels of aftermarket enhancements, however as Bob-san, the proprietor of Studie, defined, solely about 8% of their clients go for suspension upgrades. And even fewer select modifications like wheels, exhausts, or efficiency components.
Over the previous 20 years, Studie has fostered a diehard neighborhood of BMW house owners in Japan, with over 1,300 shared initiatives documented on their proprietor boards.
Many BMW fans in Japan favor to maintain their automobiles comparatively inventory, maybe a nod to the factory-delivered enjoyability and efficiency of contemporary M machines.
On this go to to Studie, Bob-san was form sufficient to carry out 4 of the store’s demo automobiles, together with his personal 1 of fifty 3.0 CSL, one in every of solely two in Japan – the opposite parked proper beside it within the Studie showroom.
Alongside the three.0 CSL, we additionally noticed a G82 M4, a collaboration between HKS and Studie on a G80 M3, and an M3 Touring Competitors – my private favorite of the bunch.
Whereas the three.0 CSL stays unmodified, it stood out as essentially the most particular automobile of the day. The CSL pays homage to BMW’s legendary Seventies coupe and encompasses a 6-speed handbook transmission, centre-lock wheels, an lively differential, and 560hp. No surprise the fiftieth anniversary launch was an instantaneous BMW collector’s must-have when it debuted in 2022.
However what shocked most was the three.0 CSL’s price ticket – north of US$1.5 million. That type of coin is sufficient to safe virtually any legendary basic or trendy hypercar. It’s a reasonably clear indicator of Bob-san’s deep ardour for the BMW model.
A signature contact for Studie automobiles is the distinctive emblem sticker positioned on the rear. Peeling pesky service store stickers off is sort of the primary to do when getting your automobile again from being labored on, however you’ll discover most Studie automobile proprietor conserving theirs firmly in place, a testomony to their delight in being a part of the Studie neighborhood.
The G82 M4 parked close by served as the muse for the three.0 CSL – minus the seven-figure asking worth.
On the surface, the M4 is fitted with carbon fibre accents, a rear wing, aspect skirts, a entrance grill alternative, a carbon bonnet, BBS wheels, and KW suspension.
The modifications are extra than simply aesthetic; they improve the automobile’s highway presence, making it not possible to disregard.
Contained in the absolutely re-trimmed cabin, the M4 encompasses a colour-matched roll cage, Recaro basic seats and an OMP steering wheel. No element has been ignored.
Subsequent is the ‘HKStudie’ M3, a undertaking combining JDM tuning strategies with German engineering. Although nonetheless in its early phases, the HKS-Studie partnership has already resulted in upgraded suspension and exhaust methods.
My favorite of the group, the M3 Competitors Wagon, was a shocking instance of understated aggression. With an Adro entrance bumper and physique equipment, this wagon stood out with out being excessive. It’s the construct that reignited my ardour for contemporary BMWs.
Beneath the hood, the purple theme continues with a CSF Race cost cooler consumption manifold and CPM cross bracing.
Paired with BBS wheels and KW suspension, this M3 Touring exemplifies the signature Studie aesthetic – refined however all the time purposeful.
The place else might you see 4 M automobiles of such calibre lined up collectively? That is what makes Studie synonymous with BMW in Japan.
Studie’s means to harness the very best of contemporary BMWs and elevate them has earned the corporate a well-deserved status. And who is aware of? In 40 years, these may be the automobiles we glance again on with the identical reverence for as we speak’s classics.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
