Back in the 1980s when Mercedes-Benz was the undisputed king of the hill in the premium segments, the brand with the star broke all the rules with the compact size 190E and even more so with the sports version of the series, the 190E 2.3 16v powered by a 2.3-liter four-pot developed by famed engineering firm Cosworth.
The answer from the then upcoming BMW brand came four years after the debut of the 190E 2.3 16v with the first generation of the M3 based on the E30 3-Series in 1986.
The two models challenged each other on both the racing circuits and the sales floors, with their respective carmakers fine tuning and presenting additional editions over the course of their lifetime.
In the latest episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine’s Jason Cammisa revitalized the battle between the two German sports cars, pitting the limited production M3 Sport Evolution (or EVO III) with a 238hp (241PS) 2.5-liter inline-four against the base 190E 2.3 16v with a 201hp (204PS in German spec).
We’re going to assume that Cammisa couldn’t find a base M3 E30 with a 192hp (195PS) 2.3-liter four or the rare 190E 2.5 16v EVO II featuring a 233hp (235PS) 2.5-liter engine and a radical body kit, in due time for the test in Germany.
You can watch the comparison between the two German sports car icons in the video after the break.
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