Italian company recreates Mercedes 190 Evo II with 765 hp turbo engine By Carolina Costa
5 min read
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Italian design studio Vespera Automobili unveiled at the end of July a stunning recreation based on the historic Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo II, one of the most revered cars in European automotive culture. Treated as a “restomod” project — a practice that restores and modifies classic cars — the vehicle combines the nostalgic look of the original model with a cutting-edge technological package, using modern engineering components to deliver extreme performance both on race tracks and for use on public roads.
Officially named Vespera Iride Evo 5, the machine brings back the aggressive aura and unmistakable style of the 1990s from a completely current engineering perspective. The manufacturer’s proposal was to pay homage to the iconic German sports sedan, replacing old parts with state-of-the-art compounds and reworking the entire mechanical structure so that the car offers driving dynamics comparable to those of the most expensive and advanced supercars in the world today.
The technical development of this ambitious project had the direct participation of Loris Capirossi, former world motorcycle champion and a great enthusiast of the high-performance automotive sector. The final version boasts an enlarged body made entirely of carbon fiber, housing a six-cylinder turbo engine capable of generating 765 horsepower, all assembled in a strictly artisanal way to ensure that each customer has a unique and exclusive automotive piece in their garage.
Aesthetic and structural changes that transform the look of the classic sedan
At first glance, the Vespera Iride Evo 5 immediately evokes memories of the Mercedes 190 Evo II, a legendary vehicle originally launched in 1990 that only had 502 units produced for homologation purposes in the rigorous German touring championship, the DTM. The new Italian interpretation preserves the unmistakable silhouette and spirit of that golden age of motorsport, but updates every inch of its design to meet today’s rigorous aerodynamic and safety standards.
The entire outer shell of the classic car has been completely redesigned and is now molded from ultra-high-strength, low-weight carbon fiber panels. The axles gained a significant widening of 9.9 centimeters on each side, leaving the car around 20 centimeters wider than the German automaker’s standard W201 chassis, which required the installation of much more robust side skirts, new air intakes positioned behind the wheel arches and a gigantic spoiler fixed to the trunk lid to generate negative lift.
During the official launch event, the display unit caught the attention of the press and public with its Montreal Green paintwork combined with gold-tone details and wheels. However, the company adopted a strict exclusivity policy for future owners: the buyer chooses the exact color of their car and, immediately after signing the contract, that specific tone is banned from the automaker’s catalogue, absolutely guaranteeing that there will never be two identical copies on the road around the world.
The external aesthetic package is completed with a completely modernized optical assembly, consisting of headlights that use high-intensity LED lighting technology to improve nighttime visibility. Furthermore, the model wears the classic and coveted OZ Rally Racing wheels, establishing yet another direct and visual connection with the rich heritage of European motorsport competitions that inspired the birth of the project.
Updated mechanical set delivers numbers worthy of current super sports cars
If on the outside respect for history and original design dictates the rules of the game, under the hood the transformation was radical and focused purely on extracting maximum brute force.
The mechanical base chosen by the engineers was the robust Mercedes M103 six-cylinder in-line block, which originally operated with 2.6 liters and a natural fuel aspiration system. Vespera’s technical team increased the volumetric displacement to 3.0 liters, replaced the internal components with race-spec forged parts and added a modern turbocharger supercharging system to multiply power delivery.
The result of all this complex engineering is a power plant managed by a six-speed manual transmission, with traction sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. The technical data of the car will impress any speed fan and includes the following milestones:
- Maximum power of 765 horsepower and a brutal torque of 913 Nm;
- Capable of accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds;
- Top speed is around 300 km/h, maintaining a total contained weight of just 1,450 kg.
All driving dynamics have been meticulously calibrated to demand skill and provide visceral pleasure to the driver who takes the wheel. The high-performance braking system brings direct references to the equipment used in the original 190 Evo II on the tracks, while the manufacturer’s insistence on maintaining a manual transmission goes against the strong trend of modern automated sports cars, forcing the driver to actively participate in each gear change and rotation reading.
Cabin focused on exclusivity mixes noble materials and analog footprint
Although the vehicle’s interior is still undergoing the final design and assembly adjustments before delivery to its first customers, the Italian manufacturer has already publicly defined what the atmosphere will be experienced by future owners.
The dashboard, doors and sports seats will receive a luxurious combination of exposed carbon fiber, high-end genuine leather and premium Alcantara upholstery. The European brand’s main guideline is to maintain the cabin environment with a purely analogue appearance, without giving up the refinement, comfort and acoustic insulation expected from a touring model hand-built by specialized craftsmen.
Following exactly the same logic of exclusivity applied to the exterior painting of the body, the cabin will be fully configurable according to the requirements of whoever signs the check. The customer will have complete freedom to define textures, stitching patterns and panel finishes, transforming the vehicle’s interior into a luxurious extension of their own personal taste.
As is customary in this restricted segment of the highest automotive luxury, Vespera Automobili did not publish an official price list for the market, reserving this sensitive information only for potential buyers who show real interest in the acquisition. The company’s business model focuses on strictly on-demand production, targeting billionaire collectors who seek rare pieces and don’t mind paying astronomical prices for a piece of completely reinvented automotive history.
