The HWA Mercedes 190E Evo II Restomod Brings a DTM Legend Back to Life

The HWA Evo is more than a tribute: it's a deliberate continuation of a motorsport lineage.

HWA (founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht, the "A" in AMG) ran Mercedes' DTM programme in the early 1990s and was intimately involved in homologating the original Evo II.

That pedigree gives HWA unique legitimacy to reimagine the 190E for a new generation.

Built from the centre out

This is not a simple restoration. HWA retains only the donor car's central chassis and strengthens it extensively. New front and rear subframes, contemporary crash structures and modern suspension architecture replace the original underpinnings to meet 21st-century safety and dynamics expectations.

The starting donor is not one of the 502 factory Evo IIs; instead, HWA began with an ordinary 190E saloon (one of millions) and kept the centre tub before rebuilding around it. The approach keeps visual authenticity while delivering modern engineering where it counts—a hallmark of premium restomod builds.

Engine, drivetrain and performance

At the heart of the HWA Evo sits a modified Mercedes-AMG M276 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. Output is targeted at roughly 500 bhp, the engine mounted far back for a front-mid configuration and balanced weight distribution. Power routes to the rear wheels through a manual gearbox, preserving the driver-focused character of the original Evo II.

HWA's goal is to keep kerb weight near 1,350 kg, matching the original to retain a similar power-to-weight ratio to contemporary sports cars. Early development cars have had creature comforts pared back—no air conditioning on the test vehicles—to prioritise engineering and calibration work.

Prototypes, testing and electronics

HWA is treating the project like a modern OEM programme. Eight prototypes are being built in total, with two reserved for crash testing. Bosch currently has the earliest cars for a concentrated year of electronic development and calibration work—temperature strips, strain gauges and a web of prototype electronics still adorn the test cars.

"It drives exactly how you'd hope a recreated Evo II would," — TopGear, on its early prototype test at Boxberg.

On the road and on track

On Boxberg's banked sections, the prototype's silhouette is unmistakable: towering rear wing, wide arches and an aggressive stance that reads like a DTM homologation special updated for today.

Early feedback shows a rigid bodyshell, balanced chassis and characterful engine note—though HWA is deliberately tuning in some turbo lag to preserve an old-school driving feel rather than a seamless modern response, echoing the analogue driving experience enthusiasts crave.

HWA has already signalled ambitions beyond the road car: a racing variant targeting events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours is part of the plan, taking the restomod full circle back to competition.

Market and value

At roughly £725,000, the HWA Evo sits in a rarefied price bracket. That is notably higher than the current market for an original Evo II (which can fetch around £350,000), but the HWA package offers contemporary safety, performance and engineering investment that the original cannot match.

Final verdict

HWA's Evo is a carefully considered revival: rooted in DTM authenticity, executed with modern engineering discipline and calibrated for driver engagement rather than headline numbers.

For collectors and enthusiasts seeking a performance car that wears its heritage openly while offering 21st-century capability, this restomod deserves close attention.

Note: The prototype driven for this report was originally tested by TopGear at Boxberg; HWA and Bosch remain in active development ahead of customer deliveries next year.