The BMW X5 M is quite intimidating when it's standing peacefully. With those big, burly wheels and tires, and the sharp cuts and creases all around, it has a very strong street presence. When you see it in action, well, that’s a whole different story altogether.

In its top-spec, it comes with a V-8 engine under the hood that can give even some powerful performance sedans a run for their money. But, it seems like this wasn’t enough for Manhart Performance. The German aftermarket company has created its iteration of this beast that comes with carbon fiber elements inside and outside, exhaust system and suspension upgrades, and a power boost that makes the X5 M even scarier in action.

BMW Manhart X5 Exterior

The SUV is finished in black and gold on the outside. There are no chrome elements anywhere on the body. The stock hood is replaced with a carbon one that features GTR inlets. Manhart has also equipped a carbon fiber spoiler at the front and a diffuser at the rear. Two-piece carbon fiber skirts grace the sides.

These complement the new 22-inch Manhart Concave One Silk Matte Black wheels wrapped in 295/30 section low-profile tires. The SUV also comes with BMW M Performance carbon mirror caps and Manhart decals all around that surprisingly don’t look too gaudy. Overall, the matte golden touches on the front and rear bumpers and the wheels look tasteful, but the decals on the door are debatable.

BMW Manhart X5 Interior

The same color theme can be seen inside the cabin as well. The quilted sports seats are finished in yellow-black upholstery. Carbon fiber is used on the steering wheel spokes and the paddle shifters. In case you missed it, the BMW logo on the center wheel is swapped with a Manhart logo to remind you every single time that this is no standard Bavarian.

BMW Manhart X5 Drivetrain

The BMW X5 M comes with a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine under the hood. In standard form, it makes 523 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque. Equip it with the optional Competition package and you have 600 horses with the same torque figures at your disposal. Manhart pushes this to the next level to create a beast that dishes out 823 ponies and 797 pound-feet of twist.

This comes courtesy of upgraded turbo, intercooler, and ECU remapping.

The performance times are not revealed, but in the standard form, the SUV takes 3.8 seconds to sprint to 60 mph from a standstill. You can expect a 0-60 mph time of around 3.5 seconds in the case of the Manhart MHX5 800.

It doesn’t end here. Manhart has installed a new stainless steel exhaust system with valve control. It comes with a 100mm quad-pipe setup that can be had with either carbon or ceramic-coated tailpipes. X5s that will be sold outside Germany can be had with stainless steel OPF-delete pipes and downpipes without catalytic converters. The tuner has also lowered the suspension system by 1.2 inches for enhanced driving dynamics. The braking system can be reconfigured, too.

Final Thoughts

Manhart has not announced the price of this build, but don’t expect it to be cheap considering the amount of work done and Manhart’s reputation. The BMW X5 M starts at around $105,100, so a build like this should cost you north of $150,000.