Despite having two turbochargers, the 3.0-liter V6 engine in the car is not as quiet as expected.
June 27, 2024 at 15:50
- The top-tier 190E restomod is priced at €714,000
- Equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, producing up to 493 hp and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque.
- In comparison to the original 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, this new model is significantly lower and wider.
Keeping up with the plethora of new and captivating restomods being unveiled can be quite challenging, but very few have garnered as much attention as the latest Evo from HWA.
We got our initial glimpse of the car towards the end of last year through a series of sketches and renderings, before it was fully unveiled last week. Shortly after the car’s online debut, HWA took the Evo to Ambri Airport in Switzerland for a set of demonstration runs, providing us with the first opportunity to witness – and hear – this remarkable creation in action.
Read: HWA’s Modern Mercedes 190E Evo Gets Twin-Turbo V6, Carbon Skin, And KW Dampers
In contrast to the original Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II, the HWA Evo does not feature a high-revving naturally-aspirated 2.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Instead, HWA has incorporated a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering an impressive 444 hp and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque, or 493 hp and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) when equipped with the optional Affalterbach package.
Despite our fondness for power, and the Evo certainly has a lot of it, we had reservations about the sound of the twin-turbo V6 engine. However, HWA has successfully engineered an exhaust system that provides it with a delightful, throaty sound, quite unlike any other modern V6 engine we’ve heard. In fact, it emits a sound reminiscent of a classic race car rather than a sedan equipped with a new Mercedes powerplant.
The new Evo made its debut in Switzerland alongside an original 190E 2.5-16 Evo II. In comparison to the car that served as the inspiration for the entire project, the new model is notably lower and wider, giving it an even more imposing presence on the road.
HWA intends to produce only 100 units of the Evo, each with a starting price of €714,000 (~$767,000) before taxes. With such a steep price tag, let’s hope that the driving experience lives up to the striking aesthetics.
