Named after its founder Hans-Werner Aufrecht, HWA is a German race and tuning shop known for developing and producing high-performance components for Mercedes-AMG’s factory race cars. Headquartered out of Affalterbach, HWA boasts a long and illustrious history of building race parts and competing in high-level motorsport competition. And with 2025 marking the Affalterbach outfit’s 25th anniversary, HWA is gearing up to celebrate the occasion via the release of a spare-no-expense restomod homage to the fabled Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II. 

First unveiled in March of 1990 at the Geneva Auto Show, the original AMG 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II — or simply “EVO II” — was a high-performance factory-built sports saloon homologation special made for Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters competition. With just over 500 examples ever produced, the EVO II is one of the rarest and most sought-after models in AMG’s recent history. As such, HWA’s restomodded automotive homage to the EVO II uses Benz’s standard W201 as its basis — though very little of the original donor vehicle remains in play, with HWA bestowing the thing with the Singer-style restomod treatment that sees the car completely reimagined and revamped from the ground up, inside and out. 

Born out of over 12,000 hours of engineering and development, the HWA EVO represents a thoroughly modern take on the EVO II, and sports a contemporary take on the original homologation special’s aero-equipped bodywork, complete with more pronounced fender flares, a new front-end and front splitter design, extended side-skirts, a new rear diffuser, and a more exaggerated rear wing. Also benefitting from completely redesigned all-LED lighting, the entire vehicle rides on a set of modernized six-arm EVO II wheels, as well. Other noteworthy modifications include a modernized bespoke interior, a track-grade suspension setup, and cutting-edge braking hardware. HWA will also be replacing the original EVO II’s 232-hp Cosworth-tuned 2.6-liter four-banger with a markedly more powerful — and markedly more modern — powertrain. 

Expected to begin deliveries in Q4 of 2025, the HWA EVO will be priced starting at €714,000 (~ $790,000). In total, production of HWA’s modernized AMG EVO II will be limited to just 100 examples worldwide. In order to bring this ambitious project to market, HWA has partnered with John Temerian’s Miami-based exotics dealership CURATED which will assist with the HWA EVO’s development and marketing.