For several years now the Association of German Car Tuners (VDAT) have been running a programme they’ve coined ‘safe tuning’ or to use its official title ‘TUNE IT! SAFE!’. But what on earth do they mean by safe tuning? Well essentially it involves using original parts approved by TÜV. The initiative is supported by the German Police and Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Road Development.

BMW provided a BMW 123d Coupe for the association’s 2010 initiative, and AC Schnitzer were presented with the task of carrying out the modifications. The 123d’s engine has been upgraded to 241 bhp (177 kW) and 480 Nm. Thus equipped the Munich’s Polizei can now accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds when fitted with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The ride height of the ‘ACS1 2.3d Coupe’ has been lowered by 30 mm and a body kit is fitted which consists of a two-piece front spoiler, rear skirt insert, rear wing and rear roof spoiler, it’s equipped with the latest AC Schnitzer wheels Type IV BiColor, fitted with tires from TUNE IT! SAFE! main sponsor Hankook. A set of day-time running lights are fitted together with the usual sprinking of ACS logo and trim pieces which somehow seem to take a perfectly good BMW interior and….. well let’s just say that usually less is more, but that’s just not the ACS way.

The AC Schnitzer ‘ACS1 2.3d Coupe’ will be on display for the first time at the Essen Motor Show on VDAT Stand No. 406 in Hall 10 from 28 November to 6 December 2009.


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Steve Davies

Steve is an investor, private equity advisor and former Partner at KPMG, PwC and Bain.   Most importantly he's a life-long car enthusiast, mountain biker and active sports enthusiast. He designs and builds technology platforms and is the architect behind Transmission.

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