If you thought you’ve seen an incredibly wide car that looks like a flattened BMW somewhere before, you’re wrong. The nearly three-meter-wide Volkswagen Lamando L, which first appeared in China four years ago, is still here. However, its creators recently decided to refresh and rework it into an imitation of the current G80 generation of the BMW M3. The result is a creation they aptly named the M3², which has once again set social media on fire.
The good news is that no one had to sacrifice a perfectly working BMW M3 to create this automotive monstrosity. The entire project was built on the foundations of the mentioned Lamand, but the authors tried to faithfully recreate some of the most recognizable details of the Bavarian athlete. These include headlights that look like original M3 parts or, at the very least, are extremely faithful replicas that are hard to tell from the real thing.
However, what undoubtedly attracts the most attention is the front fascia. The controversial and vertically elongated “kidney” grills from the G80 M3 have been reinforced here. Instead of the standard two, this creation has as many as four giant grilles, giving the wide M3 face an expression that, as they say, only a mother could love. Looking at the car from the rear, its true identity becomes a little more obvious, as the overall shape of the roof and trunk lid still resemble the lines of the standard Lamando. Nevertheless, BMW-inspired taillights were added to complete the illusion.
Volkswagen soul under BMW suit
While the exterior screams “BMW,” the interior bears no relation to the brand. The cabin is almost completely taken from the serial Lamando, with only one detail that reveals the intention of the authors to conceal the origin – the VW emblem on the steering wheel is covered with a black tape. In addition, the instrument panel received a new, extremely wide screen that is completely directed towards the passenger, which further emphasizes the unusualness of the entire project.
The story of false identity continues under the hood. While the real G80 M3 is powered by a powerful twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, this conversion retains Volkswagen’s original 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Its strength is nowhere near what its aggressive appearance suggests. The weight is unknown, although it is stated that in the original, expanded edition Lamando could carry as many as ten passengers. In the meantime, the interior has been stripped, and beanbags have been inserted instead of real seats, so it’s probably still roomy enough for the whole team.
The phenomenon of extreme processing
This project is an example of extreme tuning, where the primary goal is to create a visual impression and shock the onlookers, not to improve performance. Such modifications are common, especially in China, where the culture of car modifications sometimes results in extravagant creations that provoke violent reactions on the Internet. The appearance of cars like the “M3²” is closely related to the influence of social networks. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have become key to the spread of viral automotive content, from these extreme modifications to unusual DIY solutions.
Widening the body, known as “widebody”, represents a significant trend in the world of tuning. Companies like Pandem and Rocket Bunny specialize in making accessories that give cars a more aggressive and muscular look. Although such kits allow the installation of wider wheels and tires, their primary goal is aesthetics. This M3² took that idea to the absolute extreme, creating a vehicle that looks more like a movie prop than a daily driver.