If you saw my coverage of the Amsterdam International Motor Show 2023 last week, you will know that I was pleasantly surprised by this event. It was my first time attending IAMS and the show was delivered on all fronts.
The automotive culture of the Netherlands is diverse, and this was reflected in all the builds on display at the RAI Amsterdam event centre. For this follow-up post, I’ve picked out a few of the cars that piqued my interest for closer examination. Let’s start with a slammed Lotus Elise…
The Lotus Elise is something special, but with the addition of Air Lift Performance air suspension from Kean Suspensions in Belgium and custom 3-piece Porsche wheels from Retro Wheelz, this 2015 example takes things to another level.
We don’t need to tell you how popular the BMW E30 has become lately – their steadily rising prices do. Light rear-wheel drive and classic ’80s styling make the E30 ripe for tuning, and this example packs plenty of mods. I won’t do a deep dive as there’s too much to list and this one probably deserves full functionality, but I’ll go into the highlights: an M30B35 engine from an E34, Garrett GTX42 turbo, standalone VEMS ECU , Getrag gearbox with Samsonas shifter, AST 5100 coilovers and racing interior. The subtle Mtech 1 body kit is a refreshing touch in this widebody world.
This TA22 Toyota Celica GT from Belgium has been on the scene for a while, but the coupe still appeals to me with its classic 70s lines and tough stance. Bolt-on overfenders and a deep chin spoiler set the scene, but the low ride height coupled with 14-inch Image wheels – 10-inches wide at the front and 11-inches at the rear, with stretched tires all around – wear the house look. Another neat detail is the color-matched roll cage inside the car.
The next two cars I want to show you belong to the same person. One is heavily modified and the other is on track. The first is the C8 Audi RS6 Avant, which visually looks menacing. The exterior includes an Urban Automotive kit, which adds a front lower bumper apron, lower side sill extensions, upper rear spoiler and lower deck lid spoiler, plus a replacement rear diffuser . There are also custom carbon fiber fenders, a custom carbon fiber hood, plus grille inserts, mirror canards and caps, all made from the lightweight composite material. Custom 23×12-inch forged wheels fill out the guards, while the low ride height is courtesy of the RS6’s factory air suspension option. This release isn’t just cosmetic; The Audi’s 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine and transmission have been seriously upgraded with Power Division’s “Stage 3+” upgrade and other select performance parts, boosting output to 591 hp at 1050 hp.
The RS6 – the fastest of its breed in the Netherlands – is currently on sale, and this G81 BMW M3 Competition Touring is the owner’s replacement. For now, the BMW has only a few cosmetic upgrades – a front splitter, canards, side skirts, front fender inserts and rear valance, all in carbon fiber from JH Parts. The wheels are from Z Performance and measure 21×10.5 inches and 21×11.5 inches front and rear respectively. Performance wise, the M3 is currently fitted with a custom exhaust, but I’m sure the owner has a lot more in store for us.
Finally, we have a very cool Nissan S15. The changelist reads like a good novel, so I’ll focus on the important stuff, starting with the kit. Ever since Dino introduced Nobuteru ‘NOB’ Taniguchi’s Vertex Edge-equipped Silvia in 2013, it’s been etched in my mind as the Perfect S15. So seeing this kit fitted to a Dutch car makes me happy. Front and rear wheel tubes and air suspension help the Nissan sit perfectly on its 18-inch SSR Professor SP1 wheels, while Ganador mirrors complete it. The owner hasn’t forgotten about the performance side of things either, and the SR20DET “Blacktop” up front uses a larger turbo, GReddy intercooler and HKS Hi-Power exhaust system.
We’ll conclude here, but see plenty more images of other notable cars at the 2023 Amsterdam International Motor Show below.
Jeroen Willemsen
Instagram: jaccojeroen
