You could call them tuning arms or performance divisions, but here’s our list of the auto industries best fettlers in no particular order. Many were established so that their respective motherships could go racing, others exist because of their marque’s already competing in rally, touring cars and even formula one. And some just exist because we deserve provocative sportscars. Just a word of caution, we’ve dropped some of the redundant ones and also decided not to mine the left-field.
1) M Division – The performance house that BMW built
Technically you can trace the origin of M to the 1978 M1 supercar but for most, it truly kicked into high gear with the BMW M3 in 1986 when a skunk-works group of engineers and mechanics took to shoehorning a high performance engine into their boxy E30 coupe. The plan was to go racing so they did, and quickly picked up accolades as they went along – both on track and on the road as one the finest driver’s cars ever built. BMW M cars continue to dominate on both the road and track.
2) Mercedes-AMG – The performance house that Mercedes-Benz bought
Unlike the BMW journey, AMG was an independent tuning house that specialised in Mercedes-Benz products. It wasn’t until 1999 that Mercedes took a controlling interest in the Affalterbach-based company, before purchasing it to own in 2005. Remember, this was a company that was tuning Mercedes-Benz race cars as early as the 1960s. Other landmarks in its history must include the Mercedes-AMG SLS – their first fully developed car in 2010.
3) Mugen Motorsports – The Wizards from the Temple of VTEC
Honda, let’s give them the credit they deserve shall we? I refer to motorsport kudos specifically, with participation in everything from Formula 1 to Super GT touring cars, to British Touring Cars and Superbikes. Despite being formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, son of Soichiro himself, Mugen is not owned by the Honda Motor Company. The name means ‘no limit’ and is mostly responsible for building Honda’s mighty touring cars and of course offers an extensive aftermarket parts list to enthusiasts like us.
4) Audi Sport – Purveyors of Quattro
Audi Sport GmbH, formerly known as Quattro GmbH is 100% the property of Audi and has been since 1983 when its mandate was producing high-performance Audis and the components necessary to make them competitive on the road and track. That means Group B, the ur Quattro, the RS2, RS4 and everything else that has come since. Audi Sport has matured into one of the industry’s biggest powerhouses, I’m sure you’d agree.
5) Nismo – The clue is in the name; Nissan Motorsport
The GT-R. The 370Z. Yes, even the Nissan Juke. The plethora of sportscars that have come before and will come again from this Nippon brand do so in hope of being tuned by Nismo. Indeed, it’s the in-house performance division born in 1984 by two separate motorsport (Oppama and Omori) departments and is still dominant in whatever disciplines they compete in from Le Mans to Super GT. And while it’s true that you can get an entirely Nismo-built car, they will also sell you high-quality tuning addenda. Hell, we’d take a sticker on our Micra.
6) TRD – Toyota Racing Developments
Simply put, TRD is the in-house tuning arm for all of Toyota, which includes Daihatsu, Lexus (now F-Sport) and Scion cars (now defunct). Founded in 1954 (so that’s old) in Japan, but there is a second TRD division in the USA as you could imagine since that’s where they sell their trucks, I refer to the Tacoma, Thundra and so on, massive bakkies just ripe for some TRD bullbars and foglamps. But they also go racing so they get a pass. Despite their name TRD has had no involvement in Formula 1, that was Toyota Motorsport GmbH. Instead in Japan they stick to Formula 3 and Super GT, and in America best believe it’s NASCAR baby, and NHRA drag racing.
7) Ford Performance – Exactly what it says on the blue tin
In 1896 Henry Ford maxed out his Quadricycle at 20mph. The rest was history. I’m not joking, if Ford was a man he was birthed during a motor race and has been in competition ever since, garnering accolades such as in 1901 when he built a car called Sweepstakes and beat Alexander Winton in a 10 lap race. The rest of it is world record after record, the very spirit that would see Ford GT40s overcome Ferrari at Le Mans in the 1960s. This is the global division that have pooled their efforts in tuning typically Euro hatchbacks like the Fiesta (ST) and Focus (ST/RS) and wildly American muscle such as the Mustang, and have given us the latest unnaturally aspirated V6 GT supercar. Thanks.
8) RenaultSport – The French connection is a powerful one
Renault’s sport division has some of the best pedigree on this list. Formula One being the standout motorsport that has genuinely translated from the racetrack into some of the finest driver’s car ever made, a discipline they have bona fide success in. As a result we have a range of cars that perform best when the roads bends a bit… Nurburging.
9) Mopar – Where Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler products get their heat
Oh, and now as of late, Fiat. Yep, the name once synonymous with musclecars and superchargers, massive drag-slicks and greased back hair has recently (2011) had to extend its services to mild mannered Euro hatchbacks but there was a time when MOPAR meant all the things prior to a generation of American car guys.
Now let’s talk about Fiat because it sounds like you’re meant to be describing…
10) Abarth – The original legendary tuner of Fiat products
In 1949 Carlo Abarth formed Abarth & C. S.p.A. – maker of race cars and race cars for the road. The brand is bold, a black scorpion atop a yellow and red shield, the Italian flag proudly across in a ribbon. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiat, Abarth has turned plucky Italian cars into fire breathing monsters for almost 70 years, steers that are full of character and noise. Oh, the noise.
Honourable mentions:
