Black Ma has spent years pushing car modifications past normal limits. His latest creation carries the name M3 Squared. It stretches nearly ten feet across. Four kidney grilles sit across the front in a row that no factory BMW ever produced. The overall shape draws heavy inspiration from the current G80 M3. Yet every mechanical component traces back to a Volkswagen instead.
Work on the project’s body began by building on previously started work by the same team. They’d previously been experimenting with a Volkswagen Lamando L, a Chinese-market sedan built to seat 10 people, when they took it to new heights by expanding its body to absurd proportions. Already, the behemoth measured three meters across. They preserved the large base and began swapping in new body panels.
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The crew hunted for parts from crashed BMW M3s, such as the hood, bumpers, headlights, and taillights, which were salvaged and re-integrated into the new vehicle. Custom fabrication set to work filling in the gaps caused by the increased breadth. Two front bumpers contributed to the unusual grilles you see. They used a 3D scanner to get the curves and fitment just perfect and to match the way the stretched-out body panels moved, and the front end, well, let’s just say it’s a little aggressive and cartoonish, to the point where people had to stop and look at it.
It’s not just the looks that contribute to the effect; the brilliant Sao Paulo Yellow paint job, which is a dead giveaway that this is a BMW M vehicle in the first place, also helps. When you look at it from the side, you can still see the original Lamando roots, despite the fact that it has been extended out and mucked around with. Despite all of the work that went into making it wider, the roofline and rear part retain their original shape. The M3-inspired tail lights help to soften the contrast at the rear.
The original Lamando’s 1.4 liter 4-cylinder engine continues to provide power. There has never been a swap to the M3’s twin turbo inline six, therefore you won’t find much performance there. The automobile continues to move on its own and can do the functions that you would expect a car to perform when driven. However, due to its massive width, it is impractical to drive on public roads in most regions. Still, the guys who created it say it’s a real, driveable car.
Inside, things are a little more toned down, but with beanbag seating, they can still put a whole 10 people in there, exactly like the original Lamando. There’s a new big screen on the dashboard, but it’s directed directly at the front passenger. The VW insignia on the steering wheel has been taped up, bringing us to Black Ma’s interior design, which he refers to as a “eye reset.” Essentially, after a time looking at the car’s insane exterior, you start to feel strained, which is exactly what this design seeks to remedy so you don’t feel like you need eye drops the moment you step back out into the sunshine.
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