Amidst the historic Ferraris, rare Porsches, and modern concept cars gracing the FuoriConcorso 2026 event by the iconic Lake Como, one car immediately commanded all attention: the spectacular red HWA EVO.
Unveiled against the breathtaking backdrop of Italian villas overlooking the lake, this radical machine felt almost unreal. Nestled among manicured gardens, yachts bobbing at the water’s edge, and the event’s sophisticated ambiance, this aggressive Mercedes brought a much more brutal, mechanical edge to the proceedings.
With its massive fenders, ultra-low ride height, widened bodywork, black wheels, and lines directly inspired by German DTM racing, this HWA EVO gives the impression that a 1990s Mercedes race car has time-traveled to reappear in modern form.
HWA: The Name Behind Mercedes Competition Cars
Behind this project is HWA, a legendary German motorsports company. Founded by Hans Werner Aufrecht, one of AMG’s co-founders, HWA long served as the official structure for Mercedes-AMG’s racing programs.
For decades, HWA developed Mercedes cars for DTM, contributing directly to the German brand’s successes in one of history’s most spectacular touring car championships. The company is also involved in advanced engineering projects, exclusive vehicles, and high-level developments for both road and track.
With the HWA EVO, the German firm is now revisiting one of its most iconic cars: the Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II.
A Modern Homage to the Mercedes 190 E Evo II
The HWA EVO clearly channels the spirit of the legendary Mercedes W201 that competed in DTM during the 1990s. However, this is no mere restoration or classic restomod.
HWA has completely re-engineered the car with a modern approach. The structure has been profoundly reworked, the widened body uses lightweight materials, and all aerodynamics have been optimized to deliver handling worthy of a contemporary supercar.
The result is spectacular. The car appears significantly wider, lower, and more aggressive than the original 190 E Evo II. Every detail evokes the world of motorsport: massive air intakes, oversized fenders, carbon-fiber elements, and an ultra-radical stance.
A Twin-Turbo V6 with Over 500 Horsepower
Beneath this DTM-inspired bodywork lies decidedly modern mechanicals. The HWA EVO packs a twin-turbo V6 engine producing over 500 horsepower, paired with a completely revised transmission and chassis.
HWA didn’t just add power. The suspension, brakes, cooling, and the entire dynamic system have been developed to deliver an extremely precise and radical driving experience.
Thanks to a contained weight and significant work on chassis balance, this HWA EVO promises performance befitting the most exclusive modern sports cars. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to many current Mercedes models, which are often heavier and more grand-touring oriented.
An Interior Blending Nostalgia and Modern Tech
The cabin perfectly blends the spirit of 1980s Mercedes with modern technology and a much sportier presentation.
You’ll find bucket seats, numerous carbon-fiber elements, modernized instrumentation, and a driver-focused atmosphere. While some visual cues from the original Mercedes W201 are retained, they’ve been entirely reinterpreted with premium materials and a contemporary finish.
The objective was clearly not to create a retro car frozen in the past, but rather a modern reinterpretation of what the Mercedes 190 E Evo II could have become today.
One of the Most Striking Cars at FuoriConcorso 2026
In an event as exclusive as FuoriConcorso, standing out is a significant challenge. Amidst Italian hypercars, futuristic prototypes, and multi-million-euro historic models, visual competition is immense.
Yet, this red HWA EVO achieved exactly that. It tells a different automotive story: one of road-legal race cars, of German sedans that became DTM legends, and of an era when Mercedes dared to produce utterly wild machines.
Against the magical backdrop of Lake Como, this HWA EVO almost felt like a return to the golden age of German motorsport.
