Mercedes E190 EVO II

With the debut of the BMW M3 Sport Evolution in the late 80s, it became clear to Mercedes they needed to update their 190 2.5-16V to achieve better performance than its competitor. In March 1989, the 190E Evolution debuted at the Geneva Auto Show with an aggressive rear wing, wider wheel arches and multiple performance upgrades for the chassis and engine. The car featured an adjustable suspension system allowing the ride height to be adjusted from an interior switch upgraded brakes and its engine now produced 202hp thanks to a redesign by Cosworth. The engine's displacement remained the same, however, the engine now had a shorter stroke and bigger bore which allowed for a higher rev limit. Additional changes include lighter internals, improved lubrication, and improved cam timing. All were intended to allow the Evolution cars to be even more effective around a track.

Only 502 units of the Evolution model were produced for homologation in compliance with the DTM rules. For those customers desiring even more performance, a PowerPack option engineered by AMG was available for DM 18,000 that included improved camshafts, larger diameter throttle body, more responsive ignition, and fuel management system as well as modified intake and exhaust systems. The net result was an increase in power by 30 hp over the standard car.

A year later, Mercedes unveiled the EVO II at Geneva that featured the same powertrain as the EVO I but now came standard with the PowerPack. The most obvious update is the redesigned body kit by Prof. Richard Eppler from the University of Stuttgart that featured a larger adjustable rear wing, rear window spoiler, front splitter, and 17" alloy wheels. One may think the kit would reduce aerodynamic efficiency but thanks to Mercede's access to wind tunnels, the body kit reduced the car's drag to 0.29.

With the 25-year rule now coming into effect for many of these homologation specials, the market is seeing amazing asking prices similar to that of production supercars. Would you have an EVO II or E30 M3 over a modern supercar? Share your thoughts in the comments below!