The HWA EVO Is the 190E Revival You Didn’t Know You Needed

AMG-Bred 190E Restomod To Make Track Debut at the Nürburgring 24 Hours

It’s not often that a restomod earns the right to go toe-to-toe with today’s top-tier performance cars, but the HWA Evo isn’t your typical nostalgia project. Developed by HWA AG – the engineering powerhouse established by AMG co-founder Hans Werner Aufrecht – this modern-day reincarnation of the iconic Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II is finally ready to prove its mettle. And not just on any track: it’s headed for the Nürburgring Nordschleife during one of motorsport’s most iconic weekends.

Set to make its first public demonstration at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, two HWA EVO prototypes will run demo laps during the race weekend. The car will also be on display at the Adenauer Racing Day on June 18 and in Corso laps on June 20 and 21, with a permanent presence at the Nürburgring paddock stand throughout the weekend.

Not Your Typical Restomod

Unlike many modern restomods, the HWA Evo is far more than a vintage shell with a new engine. Each car begins life as a Mercedes W201 donor vehicle, which is then stripped to its steel bones. HWA reinforces and rebuilds it with custom aluminum and high-strength steel subframes, replacing 75% of the original chassis and doubling its torsional rigidity. The result is a motorsport-grade structure with an OEM-level finish.

Mounted in a front-mid-engine configuration is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 – believed to come from the AMG C43 – pumping out 493 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque, controlled by a bespoke HWA ECU.

For electronics, HWA partnered with Bosch Engineering to develop a custom ESP system featuring ABS and a tailored control unit – a feature not typically found in an average restomod.

A Familiar Livery for a Legendary Race Weekend

The powertrain is just one piece of the puzzle. The rest includes billet-machined suspension components, KW adjustable dampers, H&R anti-roll bars, and Brembo brakes with optional carbon ceramics. All of it wrapped in a full carbon fiber body crafted for both strength, lightweight advantage, and aerodynamic finesse.

For its Nürburgring shakedown, one of the HWA Evo prototypes features a special livery reminiscent of the original Evo II’s racing roots, particularly its dominance during the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters‘ 1992 season.

Only 100 units of the HWA Evo will be produced, each priced around $760,000. Most have already been spoken for, but if you’re lucky, there might still be a few slots left. In any case, if you have the means, a visit to the Nürburgring next weekend will earn you the right to witness this track beast up close.