Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II Is the Ultimate Vintage Touring Car
Built to win, the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II set the standard for high performance compact sedans.
An arms race broke out in the 1980s. Originating in Germany, it started when Mercedes-Benz launched the 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth. BMW then upped the ante with their E30 M3. The conflict continued throughout the decade, culminating in 1990 with the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II.
Mercedes-Benz originally planned to go rallying in the 1980s. Working with Cosworth, they developed a 16 valve head for their new 2.3-liter four cylinder engine. However, their timing could not have been worse. In 1980 Audi launched the Quattro, and by 1983 all-wheel drive dominated the World Rally Championship. Fortunately Mercedes decided to continue developing a racing program. But instead of WRC, they set their sights on DTR, Germany’s Touring Car Championship. They dropped the Cosworth motor in the new 190E and created a truly legendary compact sedan.
The Mercedes-Benz built the 190E 2.3-16 with the same care and quality as the S Class. But it was also a great driver’s car. In addition to the 16-valve Cosworth engine, the car included a close ratio “dogleg” 5-speed manual and multi-link suspension. Mercedes-Benz showcased it in a number of races and endurance events. It even set a record covering 50,000 kilometers at an average speed of 153 mph. The 190E 2.3-16 proved to be an ideal platform for racing, setting the stage for a showdown with BMW.
The ultimate 190E came in 1990 when Mercedes-Benz rolled out the Evolution II. It came standard with the AMG PowerPack, bumping the power of the 2.5-liter 16 valve Cosworth engine. Now making 232 hp and 181 lb-feet of torque, 0-60 times dropped to 7 seconds. Other features included a hydraulic rear suspension with variable ride height, and an enhanced aerodynamics package. It also included a large rear wing that looked borrowed from a Plymouth Superbird.
To receive Group A homologation for DTM, Mercedes-Benz needed to build at least 500 Evo IIs. Each of those 500 cars had to include the same engine, drivetrain, and body as the race cars. The Evo II in these pictures is number 310 out of the 502 cars Mercedes built to satisfy the Group A requirements. Painted Blauschwarz Metallic, a unique blue-black color, it’s currently for sale on Bring A Trailer and located in the Netherlands. Evo IIs generally sell in the $250,000 range, but a few have been listed for as much as $475,000.
The 190E not only proved successful as a touring car, it set a precedent for Mercedes-Benz. It was first in a long line of high performance compact sedans that continue with the C43 and C63 today. The Evo II took third place in the 1990 DTM Championship, before winning it outright in 1992. To this day, it remains a special car and is arguably one of the top 10 cars ever to wear the three-pointed star.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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