HWA $750,000 190E Evo Meets Its Superior Inspiration

The restomod twin-turbo HWA 190E Evo met up with an original 190E Evo II for a photo shoot, and, frankly, we think the original is way cooler.

The Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II is an icon. A full-blooded racer for the street, the original 190E Evo and Evo II were homologation cars for the cars competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) racing series. Mercedes equipped the original Evo II with a Cosworth 2.5-liter four-cylinder that put out a ferocious 232 horsepower. The road-going models came with a dogleg five-speed transmission, adjustable aero, and a drool-worthy body kit that took the everyday sedan look of the E-class and turned it into a boxy bit of heaven that car enthusiasts around the world have adored continuously for over three decades. Now, HWA is offering up a modern take on this classic in a bespoke fashion, and it recently got to come face-to-face with its inspiration.

Carscoops says that the HWA Evo has a starting price of around $767,000 before taxes in U.S. dollars. HWA is only making 100 examples of its modern Evo restomod, too. So, the price and limited production ensure that it will only be available to a handful of elite automotive collectors. A recent video on the NN2255 YouTube channel showcases the HWA Evo side-by-side with the classic Evo II. Truth be told, the video leaves us with a slightly negative overall impression of the HWA car.

Lacking the Same Soul

The amount of work and attention to detail going into each HWA Evo is certainly impressive. The car itself is a phenomenal feat. HWA is a successful builder of race cars and racing engines. Their EVO starts its life as a standard 190E, which they completely dismantle and rebuild from the ground up. The body is largely carbon fiber. Compared to the original Evo II, it’s wider and longer. It uses a modern Mercedes twin-turbo V6 engine that makes up to 493 horsepower. Road and Track reported that HWA’s CEO Martin Marx prefers that folks don’t call it a restomod on the basis that it is effectively an entirely new car. It is extremely impressive.

That said, it’s hard not to see it as just another high-end collector’s item that’ll never be used to its full potential. If you play your cards right, the cost of the HWA car is enough money to buy two examples of the iconic Evo II that it’s emulating. Sure, you don’t get the modern amenities or power output. However, the HWA Evo doesn’t have the same pedigree as the original. It’s not a homologation car, it doesn’t have a dogleg transmission, and you’re not likely to ever see one anywhere near a race track. At the end of the day, despite the CEO’s wishes, it is just a restomod 190E.