For anyone who grew up watching the golden era of DTM or had posters of boxy German sedans with towering wings on their bedroom walls, this one’s going to hit you right in the nostalgia. The Mercedes-Benz 190E, the underdog that once went wheel-to-wheel with the mighty BMW M3, is making a stunning comeback. Sort of.
On Thursday, motorsport engineering firm HWA AG announced that it’s bringing two modern, track-prepped versions of the beloved 190E to compete in the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours. And yes, they look every bit as mean and magnificent as you’d hope.
Old Soul, New Power
These aren’t dusty relics from the ‘90s. Dubbed the HWA Evo, these cars are modern interpretations of the legendary 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II, the very car that helped Mercedes clinch a DTM title back in 1992.
Under the hood? A twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, churning out 443 horsepower in base trim, with an optional bump to 493 hp for the brave-hearted. It’s matched with a good ol’ six-speed manual gearbox because some traditions are worth preserving.
But this isn’t just a performance play. HWA has sculpted the Evo with sleek, lightweight composite panels and race-focused aerodynamics. In road-going form, the car weighs just under 3,000 pounds, a sweet spot for agility and punch. It’s a love letter to motorsport’s analog past, with all the engineering muscle of today.
All Roads Lead to the ‘Ring
The Nürburgring 24 Hours is no easy task. It’s one of the toughest endurance races in the world and perhaps the perfect stage for a reborn icon. HWA will enter their twin Evos in the SP-X class, a category reserved for special one-off vehicles that defy typical racing categories.
While exact competition specs are still under wraps, expect all the usual racing essentials: a full safety cage, fuel cell, stripped interior, race suspension, and probably some wild aero mods tailored for the Nürburgring’s unforgiving layout.
DTM Legends, Back in the Garage
This isn’t a marketing stunt. This is passion. HWA, after all, isn’t just any engineering house it was founded by Hans Werner Aufrecht, the “A” in AMG and a mastermind behind Mercedes’ DTM dominance. Back in the day, HWA ran the original 190E DTM program.
To add to the legacy, DTM veterans Roland Asch and Klaus Ludwig, two men who once raced the 190E in anger, are helping develop the new cars. Talk about a full circle.
Could the BMW M3 Be Far Behind?
Naturally, fans are already whispering about a possible revival of the legendary 190E vs. M3 rivalry. Could BMW step up with a modern-day homage of their own? One can only hope. The Nürburgring could play host to a nostalgic clash of titans once again.
A Race to Remember
Whether you’re a motorsport nerd, a die-hard DTM fan, or someone who simply appreciates beautifully engineered cars with a story to tell, HWA’s resurrection of the 190E Evo is one to watch. Come 2026, it won’t just be about lap times. It’ll be about legacy. And few cars carry it quite like the Mercedes-Benz 190E.
