The most desirable version of the Mercedes-Benz W201 – the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II – is poised to make a return in the form of a limited-production restomod by HWA AG. The Affalterbach-based company which is known for its involvement in motorsports announced its new project which will be called HWA EVO and is set to arrive in late 2025.
HWA describes the model as a street-legal supercar and a “furious reinterpretation of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II equipped with state-the-art technologies”. The project is realised in partnership with Curated, a US company that specializes in historic sportscars and restomods.
The original DTM homologation special debuted in 1990 with a limited production of 502 units. The HWA EVO will be even more exclusive, with only 100 examples being planned. As part of the announcement, HWA published a few sketches and a 3D drawing showing us what to expect.
More: Relive The Best Of The ’90s With An AMG-Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II DTM
HWA AG / Instagram
Khyzyl Saleem / Instagram
In a Facebook post, designer Khyzyl Saleem says that he’s collaborating with HWA on the project, claiming that his Mercedes 190 EVO III rendering from 2022 (above) will be the inspiration for the limited HWA EVO. The official sketches depict a beefed-up version of the original EVO II with wider fenders and larger-diameter wheels.
Instead of sacrificing one of the precious examples of the EVO II, the HWA EVO will be based on the widely available W201. The original Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II came fitted with a Cosworth-engineered AMG-tuned 2.5-liter 16V four-cylinder engine producing 232 hp (173 kW / 235 PS). It also featured adjustable suspension and of course, the iconic bodykit.
Deliveries of the HWA EVO are expected to commence at the end of 2025, with the starting price of €714,000 ($775,878) limiting its appeal to rich collectors. In any case, we will be watching closely for more pictures and information.
