The first HWA EVO has officially been delivered, marking the start of customer deliveries for the ultra-limited performance car. Chassis #001 has been handed over to Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Loh at Germany’s Nationales Automuseum, where it now joins the original Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II chassis #001 in the Loh Collection.
A Modern Tribute to the Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution II
The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II was developed as a DTM homologation special, with only 502 road cars produced. Its distinctive styling and motorsport heritage have made it one of Mercedes’ most sought-after performance models.
Inspired by that legacy, HWA created the HWA EVO as a modern interpretation rather than a restomod. HWA was founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht, the “A” in AMG, and has spent decades building Mercedes race cars.
The first HWA EVO, priced at $760,000, now shares the same collection as chassis #001 of the original 190E Evolution II, placing the first examples of both generations under one roof.
Chassis #001 Joins the Loh Collection
HWA delivered chassis #001 to Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Loh at Germany’s Nationales Automuseum. The museum already displays original 190E Evolution II chassis #001 and chassis #500, making the new HWA EVO a natural addition to the collection.
Finished in the same Blue-Black Metallic color as the original Evolution II, the first HWA EVO serves as both a tribute to its predecessor and the official beginning of customer deliveries.
Engineering Beyond a Traditional Restoration
Although the HWA EVO starts with a Mercedes 190E body shell, HWA extensively reengineers the vehicle. Only a small portion of the original body remains after the chassis is reinforced with aluminum and high-strength steel before being fitted with carbon-fiber body panels.
The result is a vehicle that is significantly stiffer and wider than the original model.
Powertrain and Performance
The HWA EVO is powered by a reworked twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Mercedes V6. HWA disassembles each engine, balances the internal components, installs a dry-sump lubrication system, and develops its own engine management calibration.
The standard configuration produces 444 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Buyers can also choose the Affalterbach Package, which increases output to 493 horsepower.
Power is delivered through a six-speed manual transaxle. The car also features race-inspired suspension, nearly perfect 50:50 weight distribution, and digital gauges designed to pay tribute to the original Evolution II.
Prototype PT01 and HWA EVO R Added to the Museum
The delivery ceremony also included Prototype PT01, the development vehicle used throughout much of the HWA EVO’s engineering program before appearing at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. That prototype now becomes part of the Loh Collection.
Displayed alongside it is the HWA EVO R, the competition-focused version that competed in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours and is now available for customers as a track-only vehicle.
Production Begins for an Ultra-Limited Model
The delivery of chassis #001 officially launches production following approximately two years of development after the HWA EVO was first unveiled in 2023.
HWA said chassis #002 has already been delivered to the company’s principal shareholder, Willibald Dörflinger, as customer vehicles begin leaving Affalterbach.
Production will remain highly exclusive, with only 100 road-going HWA EVO models planned. Each vehicle will be assembled largely by hand using motorsport expertise.
According to HWA, the road-going model also served as the foundation for the HWA EVO R, requiring only limited modifications to become a race-ready car because it was engineered for competition from the outset.
Special Exhibition Showcases the EVO Legacy
Visitors to Germany’s Nationales Automuseum can now view the original Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution II alongside the modern HWA EVO. The exhibition also includes Prototype PT01, the HWA EVO R race car, the original Evolution II models, and Klaus Ludwig’s 1992 DTM championship-winning Mercedes.
The collection brings together the original homologation special and its modern interpretation, highlighting the evolution of a performance icon developed by the same organization behind the original race cars.
