HWA EVO is the ultimate 190E restomod

HWA, a German-based motorsport and automotive technology company, is about to unleash its EVO. A reincarnation of the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 EVO II, the firm has recently presented a ‘Concept Demonstrator’ to help woo buyers. 

Said to be ‘roadgoing and track-ready’, it will be limited to 100 examples. Of the new EVO, HWA says it will ‘provide a contemporary, ultra-focussed driving experience through the empathetic application of modern materials, technology, and manufacturing techniques while holding true to the ethos of the 1990 Mercedes-Benz EVO II’.

Read our story on the M-B 190E Evo II

Along with developing F3 and DTM cars, HWA had a hand in the Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR and the CLK DTM AMG. HWA says it has the ability to do everything in-house from simulation, design, chassis and engine build, to electronics, carbon fibre, paint and cabin trim. 

A Mercedes-Benz 190E turned up to 11

The EVO starts with a Mercedes-Benz W201 donor vehicle and uses a proportion of the steel chassis as a base. This is extensively reinforced and new front and rear aluminium chassis assemblies are added. A full carbon body is fitted to the re-engineered chassis, contributing to the car’s 1360kg claimed kerb weight.

While the original Evo II had a four pot, the new EVO will use a Mercedes bi-turbo 3.0-litre V6 with 450hp and 550Nm. It has its own ECU, dry sump system, and custom intercooler. HWA has rehoused the ancillaries (starter, alternator etc) at the rear of the engine bay to improve weight distribution. Helping in that regard is the rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox.

Double wishbones are fitted front and rear. The KW dampers are adjusted manually, while the ‘Affalterbach pack’ allows for electronic adjustment. Like the original, the HWA EVO is offered with a front axle lift. HWA has developed its own ESP and ABS system while bolting on six-piston 380mm front and four-piston 360mm rear discs. 

While the 1990 EVO II featured a ‘bolt-on’ fibreglass composite body kit, the HWA EVO wears larger DTM-inspired arches. These house 19-inch front, and 20-inch rear forged wheels. At the rear the big spoiler is even bigger, sitting up higher with an extendable rear flap.

Inside there is digital instrumentation, navigation functionality and smartphone integration. Front and rear Recaro seats can be trimmed in an extensive range of materials, allowing owners to personalise their EVO. 

How much is the HWA EVO?

The HWA EVO is priced from €714,000, with the first units expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.