Anyone with a passion for widebody builds will want to spend some extra time at tuningXperience: Widebody styling remains a major trend in 2026. Highlights include a Nissan GT-R R35 and Lexus LC500 in Liberty Walk style, RWB Porsches and a Chevrolet Corvette featuring an RSD Factory widebody kit. The RWB Porsches in particular are guaranteed to turn heads: Several models from the 964, 993 and 997 generations showcase the unmistakable signature style of Japanese tuner Akira Nakai. 

JDM Power and Tuning in All Its Forms 

Japan plays a major role throughout the exhibition. Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, Honda, Mitsubishi and Lexus will all be represented by numerous vehicles. At the same time, tuningXperience demonstrates that spectacular tuning knows no boundaries when it comes to brands, model years or powertrains. Classics and modern classics stand alongside current models, daily drivers alongside sports cars, and electric vehicles alongside uncompromising high-performance builds. 

“This diversity is exactly what tuningXperience is all about for me. These cars all tell completely different stories, but they have one thing in common: Every project is the result of highly individual ideas, countless hours of work and genuine passion. We want to surprise visitors and show just how creative and international the tuning scene has become,” says Sven Schulz, organiser of tuningXperience. 

From 36 to 1,500 hp: Anything but Ordinary 

Two extremes illustrate just how diverse the line-up is: An elaborately customised Trabant 601 estate will arrive in Essen with a modest 36 hp. At the other end of the spectrum, a Lamborghini Huracán Performante with a twin-turbo conversion boasts up to 1,500 hp. And in between? Plenty of surprises. 

Take the Rover Mini “WATTson”, for example: This classic has been transformed into a 300 hp electric show car using a motor from a Tesla Model 3 and battery modules from a Porsche Taycan. Or a VW Corrado from the Netherlands, whose 1.9-litre TDI engine produces around 700 hp and more than 1,000 Nm of torque. A 1966 Fiat 850 combines a Mazda RX-7 rotary engine with a spectacular bare-metal finish, among other modifications. Meanwhile, a 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL demonstrates what is possible when restoration and tuning come together, following thousands of hours of meticulous work. 

Custom bikes, more than ten vehicle projects created by women and numerous rare models also feature in the line-up. In short, Hall 5 rewards not just a first glance, but a second and third look, inviting visitors to spend hours exploring. 

A Festival Packed with Automotive Highlights 

tuningXperience is part of the Essen Motor Show – the festival for all car enthusiasts. Around 500 exhibitors from 19 countries will present everything related to Performance & Racing, Tuning & Lifestyle, Motorsport and Classic Cars at Messe Essen. 

“For many fans, tuningXperience is one of the absolute highlights of the Essen Motor Show. Visitors get to see vehicles in configurations that are rarely encountered anywhere else. Attractions like these make a visit to our show truly special and ensure that there is still something new to discover even after several hours,” explains Ralf Sawatzki, Project Manager of the Essen Motor Show.