Stuttgart sports badge: Powerful spoilers and aprons, large wheels in flared wheel arches and a huge rear aerofoil: The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, known to fans as the ‘EVO II’ for short, clearly demonstrates its sporting potential even when stationary. This high-performance saloon with road approval finally catapulted the 201 model series into the realm of motor racing. In the 1990s, it was an absolute cult car and today it is an extremely rare and valuable younger dream car.
Characteristic features: The series’ top model is immediately recognisable thanks to its body modifications. On the right-hand side of the boot lid, the exhibit sports the iconic number sequence 2.5-16 – a reference to the 2.5-litre high-performance engine with four-valve technology. The discreet badges with the word “evolution” on the wings of this compact class definitively identify the exact model. Only the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II has them.
Number 222: Exactly 502 examples of the EVO II were produced as an exclusive series in 1990. They served to homologate the DTM racing touring car, which was put to extremely successful use in the popular racing series from July 1990 and with which Klaus Ludwig became DTM champion in 1992. The special “Youngtimer” exhibition shows vehicle number 222. This is revealed by the individual “222/500” badge on the shift lever of the five-speed transmission. Why the extra two vehicles? To be on the safe side, two more vehicles were built at the time, in order to fulfil the requirements for the homologation of this development stage of the DTM racing touring cars – the requirement was at least 500 units. All EVO IIs were painted in the colour blue-black metallic (colour code DB 199).
Compact power pack: The EVO II was a super-sporty statement from Mercedes-Benz. Its engine delivers 173 kW (235 hp) at 7,200 rpm, with a top speed of up to 250 km/h – the speedometer scale even goes up to 260 km/h. The M 102 E 25/2 engine is installed at an angle of 15 degrees and designed in line with the DTM technology of the time: the road version of the EVO II has a slightly smaller displacement (bore × stroke: 97.3 × 82.8 millimetres) than the DTM racing touring car (bore × stroke: 97.8 × 82.8 millimetres) – however, both are configured with a shorter stroke than the engine in the 190 E 2.5-16 presented in 1988 (bore × stroke: 95.5 × 87.2 millimetres). In the EVO II racing car, the engine initially produced 245 kW (333 hp) at 8,500 rpm and revved up to 9,500 rpm – in the 1992 master vehicle, it produced up to 274 kW (373 hp).
Optimisation in the wind tunnel: The EVO II was a sensation at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 1990. The sheer size of the light-alloy rear aerofoil was unusual for road-legal vehicles in 1990, and noticeable even to the layman. The aerodynamics of the wing can be finely adjusted using several screws. The rear window is partially covered to improve the airflow. A contemporary comparative photo of the 190 E 2.5-16, EVO and EVO II clearly shows how the body attachments become larger with each stage of development. This superlative car aroused a desire that continues to this day.
Subtle changes: A look at other details on the vehicle in the special exhibition reveals the considerable improvements compared to other “190s”. Some of these are quite discreet and hardly noticeable at first. The Mercedes star is several centimetres further down owing to the large rear aerofoil. The lock in the boot lid of the EVO II is therefore located in the brand logo – a very unusual position.
Roman wheels: The EVO II rides on mighty wheels. They fill out the heavily flared wheel arches – especially when the suspension’s three-stage hydraulic levelling system is set to maximum lowering. The 8.5 × 17-inch six-spoke light-alloy wheels with 245/40 ZR 17 low-profile tyres are legendary. Bruno Sacco, head of design at Mercedes-Benz from 1975 to 1999, is said to have commented as follows: “They remind me of a Roman chariot.” This gave the rims the nickname “combat wheels”. Not an entirely inappropriate comparison, as chariot races with modified chariots were among the most popular sporting events in ancient Rome. In a way, these racetracks were the early forerunners of modern circuits.
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