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In-house designation: W 201 E 25/2 Evolution Construction year: 1989 Construction span: 1989 Production volume: 502 Price when new: DM 87.204,-
History and design
The W 201 marked Mercedes-Benz's return to motor sport at the end of the eighties after a break of over 20 years: AMG took part in the German Touring Car Championship in Mercedes' name. In order to maximise its chances, Mercedes-Benz produced in 1989 an Evolution series of the 190 E 2.5-16 which conformed to Group A regulations. The four-cylinder engine of this car that was to serve as the basis for Mercedes-Benz's new venture into motor sport has a shorter stroke (82.8 mm) than the standard 2.5-16 model (87.2 mm) to boost the engine speed. The Evolution's chassis has self-leveling suspension front and back (back only in the production version) and eight-inch instead of seven-inch wheels.
In terms of appearance, too, this Mercedes leaves one in no doubt whatsoever about its sporting aspirations: all the 502 special sedans built sport fender extensions, a low-level front spoiler and a towering rear spoiler - a requirement if these special features are to be used in the sports version, too. The Evolution unfortunately did not quite come up to expectations: At the end of the '89 season the best-placed Mercedes driver of the DTM, Kurt Thiim, only made fourth place.
Facts and figures
Engine: water-cooled four-cylinder in-line with two overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. Bosch CIS-E Jetronic. Bore x stroke: 97.3 x 82.8 mm Displacement: 2,463 cc Output: 143 kW (195 hp) at 6,800 rpm Power transmission: five-speed gearbox Length/width/height: 4,430/1,720/1,342 mm Unladen weight: 1,320 kg Top speed: 230 km/h Miscellaneous: For an extra 19,000 marks customers could have their Evolution 190 souped up for road use with an AMG powerpack - the result: 165 kW (225 hp) at 7,200 rpm.
WRC - That's motorsport!
"If you can see the tree you are about to hit, it is called 'understeering'. If you can only hear and feel it, it was 'oversteering'."
Walter Röhrl