THERE'S A RESTOMOD MERCEDES-BENZ 190E 2.5-16 EVO II IN THE WORKS BY ICONIC TUNER HWA, AND IT'S FIRE!
In the world of restomods, the ones that are the most successful are based on iconic classics. These days you can’t throw a stick without hitting a restomod classic Porsche 911, and that’s not a complaint. The folks over at MANHART have a dedicated side of the business whose sole purpose is to carry out restomod builds on some iconic cars, and it’s a similar story at a few other well-known aftermarket concerns. If you had to ask us to create a list of iconic classic cars that we think need a modern makeover, one that would 100% make the list is the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II. It’s not only because the car came out at the same time as cars started getting more attention than girls in my world, but also because it has those timeless 90s lines with a pretty impressive powerplant. Luckily a chap with more clout than me has decided the same thing. Ex-AMG founder and founder of HWA Hans Werner Aufrecht has put together the ultimate Mercedes-Benz restomod project using the legendary 90s saloon as the base. "The EVO II was a design icon of the early 1990s and set benchmarks in terms of style. Our idea was to reinterpret this design. With CURATED, we wanted a partner at our side for this project who knows the market for such cars inside out and believes in the HWA EVO. I think we are creating the best conditions for the HWA EVO to be successful," says Aufrecht. HWA has extensive motorsport experience tailored around the Mercedes-Benz brand. A company with such a rich motorsport history along with all the necessary know-how, tooling and machinery is the perfect one to take on a project like this, but as you might expect, the results won’t come cheap.
The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II is a rare sight, just 500 models were produced for homologation purposes and the racecar that was allowed to enter the world-famous DTM race series (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters - or German Touring Cars) where it quickly became a crowd favourite and was quite successful too, winning 16 out of 24 races in 1992 at the hands of Klaus Ludwig who claimed his first DTM title that same year. The HWA EVO sticks to the original design language being based on the W201 Mercedes-Benz. The car will be developed and produced using state-of-the-art technology in terms of powertrain, performance, chassis, brakes, aerodynamics and safety. The exact technical specifications are currently being finalized but with all the people involved in the restomod, it’s sure to be amazing. There is a lot left to do, so far the looks have been sort of finalised if the images released so far are anything to go by. The HWA EVO is tipped to be completed by 2025, at will likely cost in the region of a massive €714,000. We’re not the only ones excited for the HWA EVO, here’s a few quotes from people involved in the project.
Martin Marx, CEO HWA AG: "Thanks to our company's long tradition, we see the HWA EVO as a flagship project into which we can incorporate all our experience and know-how. This further milestone is a demonstration of our capabilities and raises the bar to a new level so that we are optimally prepared for future tasks."
Gordian von Schöning, CTO HWA AG: "With the HWA EVO, we are consistently continuing our company's orientation as a vehicle manufacturer and combining our long history with the modern age. We have gladly accepted this challenge in terms of design and development and will soon be able to present a vehicle that will be unique on the market."
John Temerian, co-founder CURATED: “We couldn't be more excited for this project. With a shared appreciation for the essence of originality - and the authentic understanding of tenacity, technical mastery and mechanical excellence - HWA & Curated are joining forces in the pursuit of new automotive perfection. This venture merges state-of-the-art technology, 90s nostalgia and the thrill of the drive.”Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps at Petrolicious who took a deep dive into everything that makes the homologation special, well, special. This video should give you some inkling of why the 190E DTM EVO II is the perfect choice for a limited number restomod project: Homologation Specials: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II | Petrolicious
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