- m52 brand marks historic collaboration between mountune and fifteen52
- Same performance DNA and approach, adapted to VAG cars
- Host of tailored powertrain, chassis and style products planned for 2019
- m52 promotional video: https://youtu.be/TbNM3YDVli4
13 May 2019, Brentwood. mountune has collaborated with automotive wheel powerhouse fifteen52 to launch a new aftermarket brand for Volkswagen AG vehicles. Combining its rich heritage in performance engineering with the design flair of fifteen52, m52 will offer VW enthusiasts the same level of service, care and performance that mountune’s Ford customers have enjoyed for more than a decade.
“It is an exciting chapter in our history,” explains Alec Pell-Johnson, director of mountune and m52. “We are building a new brand for a group of automotive enthusiasts that are equally dedicated and passionate. While mountune performance began over a decade ago with the 2008 mk6 Fiesta ST, the opportunity to work with fifteen52 and build a distinct, new brand was an opportunity to jump at. We are one of the very few tuners that have ever been OEM-approved to modify vehicles within warranty – it is this level of dedication and expertise that we are bringing to m52 and VAG models.”
It is not the first time the UK-based mountune has worked on a VAG project. Aside from the occasional personal commission, the company has had extensive past experience with Audi engines for the Formula 2 racing series. Over the course of 4 seasons, mountune designed, built and supported thirty 1.8-litre 20-valve Audi engines – eventually increasing their power output to 480bhp (with push to pass). The company also worked with VW USA, Tanner Foust and fifteen52 on a Golf GTI for SEMA 2017, dubbed the mountune X Foust Edition GTI Concept. The vehicle was a homage to the 1986 Group A World Rally Championship winning Golf GTI 16V. It also marked a highlight moment for the long-standing partnership between mountune and fifteen52 and led to the eventual decision to create a new VW-focused performance brand.
m52 launches in the UK and USA with a number of products for the Mk7/7.5 Golf GTI and Golf R. The X3 complete induction system and stage 1 calibration are available now from the m52 store. Promising to add more performance to the pair of iconic VW hot hatches, the calibrations have been developed and thoroughly tested in line with the rigorous standards and processes developed by mountune. DSG-equipped vehicles are also supported with complementary transmission calibrations, updating the TCU to provide quicker changes and remove unwanted OE characteristics. The entire m52 hardware and software offering will be extended significantly throughout 2019, with upgrades also slated for models directly outside the VW arena.
“This will be an epic brand in the performance aftermarket and offer something new to the VW community,” explains Matt Crooke, owner of 1552. “We are excited to partner with mountune on this ground breaking collab’. It’s a partnership that has been a long time coming and was always just a matter of when, not if. mountune have always done amazing work with Ford vehicles and we are super pumped to show the world what happens when that engineering expertise is combined with our unique aesthetic.”
The m52 store will also launch with exclusive merchandise, including keyrings, lanyards and air fresheners. T-shirts, jumpers, caps and hoodies will soon follow to allow proud owners and fans to show their allegiance to the new kid on the block. As part of the brand’s launch, m52 is offering all customers 5% off until the end of May, using the checkout code ‘m52’.
“While we are excited to launch m52, we are also more dedicated than ever to producing word-class Ford products. We have recently launched SMARTflash, an incredibly powerful app that allows you to update your vehicle’s calibration from your phone, and have exciting power and transmission options coming for both our Ford and VW customers,” concludes Pell-Johnson. “Needless to say, we are very eager to get stuck into the new Focus ST and continue our tradition of bringing incredible performance to this sporting icon. Increasing the breadth of our knowledge and experience with m52 will benefit all of our customers. The engineering teams will be working closely together, sharing knowledge and technical resources to provide better products for mountune and m52 customers alike.”
For more information, please visit mountune52.com mountune52usa.com