- Track days just got a little more interesting thanks to HWA’s new EVO R.
- Designed for customers, the car is heavily influenced by the EVO.R racer.
- Only 15 will be made and each features a twin-turbo V6 with around 552 hp.
The HWA EVO.R race car, a tribute to the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II, is gearing up to compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring this weekend and the company used the festivities to announce an all-new model known as the EVO R. It’s a track-only customer car that shares its “core architecture” with the racer.
The model follows in the footsteps of the road-going sedan and sports an aggressive carbon fiber widebody kit. It includes extended wheel arches, a revised hood, and NACA ducts.
More: HWA’s Reimagined Mercedes 190E EVO II Looks Just As Good Under The Skin
Designers went on to add polycarbonate windows, removable rear doors, and lightweight racing wheels from Ronal. Rounding out the highlights is a racing exhaust and an integrated air jack system.
One look at the interior tells you the car means business as it has a carbon fiber racing seat, which has been designed to provide an “optimal driving position for a wide range of drivers.” The model also sports a racing steering wheel, carbon fiber trim, large switchgear, and an FIA-homologated roll cage and fuel cell.
That’s pretty hardcore, but there are a few concessions for the consumer market. Key among them is an optional air conditioning system and a front passenger seat. Buyers can also go the other way and get a 24 hour lighting package and a drink system.
The EVO R has a reinforced monocoque chassis and a six-way adjustable racing suspension, which was developed in collaboration with KW and H&R. They’re joined by AP Racing competition brakes and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine that now produces 552 hp (412 kW / 560 PS) and 494 lb-ft (670 Nm) of torque. That’s up from the road-going model’s 493 hp and 405 lb-ft (549 Nm) with the optional Affalterbach package.
The engine is connected to a six-speed sequential transmission and HWA suggested the car is surprisingly approachable. As they explained, the EVO R has been “developed with ease of handling and operation in mind, making it accessible to drivers of all experience levels.”
Production will be limited to 15 units and each will be built to order. Buyers will be supported by the company’s turn-key ownership program, which provides “access to expert technicians, a dedicated parts service, and invitations to exclusive events at every stage of their ownership.” HWA has not put a number on the Race Edition, but the regular EVO opens at around €714,000, or roughly $830,000 at current exchange rates.
