25 years of the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II
25 years ago, the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II thrilled professionals and the general public alike when it was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. The touring car developed for Group A racing on the basis of this sports saloon went on to acquire legendary status. Mercedes-Benz took the first three places in the DTM championship in the 1992 season with this vehicle, which was referred to succinctly as the “Evo II”. Today, the Evo II presents a fascinating spectacle as a works racing car from Mercedes-Benz Classic competing in historic motor sport events.
25 years ago, the sports saloon laid the foundations for the special tradition of high-performance vehicles such as are offered by Mercedes-AMG today – culminating in the C-Class in the current C 63 S of model series 205 rated at 375 kW (510 hp).
Constant development and performance improvement
The Evo II did justice to its appearance by virtue of a further development of the vehicle. The engine’s output had been raised once again in comparison to the first Evolution model from the previous year, the Evo II now generating 173 kW (235 hp) of power as opposed to the previous 143 kW (195 hp).
The top speed was 250 km/h, and the Evo II accelerated from a standing start to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. The body had also undergone further refinement on an aesthetic and technical level. In all, 502 units of the Evo II were produced - available exclusively in blue black metallic.
First successes in motor sports
The 190 E 2.3-16 put in a brilliant performance in the opening race of the new Nürburgring in 1984. In 1988 Mercedes-Benz entered the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) with the racing tourer developed from the series production version, and Roland Asch finished the season as Vice-Champion. Meanwhile, the motor sport specialists in Stuttgart were already working on their next coup, developing the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution (1989) and 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (1990) models on the basis of the road-going version of the sixteen-valve model. Then AMG assumed responsibility for converting the vehicles destined for racing use.
Pure fascination – then and today
The Evo II had its racing debut on the North Loop of the Nürburgring in the DTM on 16 June 1990. In 1990 Kurt Thiim took 3rd place in the DTM, and in 1992 Ludwig won the DTM Championship ahead of Kurt Thiim and Bernd Schneider – all three driving a 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. In the 1993 season, Roland Asch finished as runner-up in the successor to the Evo II. In March 2015, the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II celebrated its 25th birthday. To this day the young classic retains the fascinating allure that it first revealed when it was unveiled as a new compact sports saloon at the Geneva International Motor Show in 1990.
This enduring appeal is particularly true of the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II configured by Mercedes-Benz Classic as a works racing car, which adds a special shine to historic motorsport in its appearances at Youngtimer Trophy meetings.
