Friday 20th December 2024

First look at 'retro-modern' HWA EVO cabin

A six-speed manual, physical HVAC controls and Isofix? HWA's 190 is the dream PH supersaloon...

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There are many reasons to be excited about the HWA Evo, from the way it looks to the reputation of the company behind it. There’s every chance that it’s going to be absolutely superb - and now there’s one more thing to ramp up enthusiasm just a little more: the interior looks great. 

This isn’t the finished article just yet, instead something that HWA is calling - deep breath - the Designfestlegungsfahrzeug, or ‘Interior Testbed’. Try spelling that after a Christmas lunch. This is what they’re hoping to achieve with the re-engineered, rejuvenated Mercedes 190E, basically; a 1:1 concept to work towards and used to establish ‘engineering targets, as well as evaluate ergonomics’. With production of the first Evos set to begin in 2025, here’s hoping very little is going to change for the real thing. 

There’s plenty to be encouraged by in what HWA is calling a ‘retro-modern’ cabin, including a six-speed manual gearlever that’s a faithful homage to the old 2.3-16 ‘knob, along with digital dials doing the same. The latter are configurable for those who might prefer a more modern look. Additionally, while a screen is incorporated for phone mirroring, switches, dials and buttons remain for the windows, HVAC and volume. It’s like they’ve been reading every PH comments thread. HWA believes that the balance between analogue and digital means the Evo ‘remains true to the ethos of the original’, which apparently even extends to a not-very-nice four-spoke wheel.

Certainly this still resembles a 190E to a large extent, though none were ever quite this lavishly appointed. Evo customers will be offered a huge array of personalisation options, so something far jazzier than the all-black seen here will be possible for those that want it, though all Evos will get an integrated, Alcantara-clad roll cage, harnesses up front and Isofix for the rear bench. A plaque by the gearstick will identify which of the 100 cars you’re driving. Speaking of which, there are still a few build slots for the HWA Evo remaining. Order books are said to be almost full, so best move quick, and budget accordingly if you really want to go to town on the interior. No doubt €700,000 could be added to all too easily… 

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• Epic HWA Evo edges closer
• Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evo II | PH Heroes

[Twinair]

Not sure about that wheel, rest looks pretty cool…

[Augustus Windsock]

I’ve given it one (1) star, just doesn’t equate to €700k for me, and I wonder how many will actually be made and sold..?

[BigChiefmuffinAgain]

"Order book is almost full...."

But of course.

Horrible steering wheel.

[unseen]

Overall I like it but then I've always loved that era of Merc dashboards, the steering wheel looks slightly Evoque like and i'm not sure about the racing style / wood combo; I suppose it can be bespoke to whatever you want for a price

[B10]

I would like it with beige fabric and wood trim please

[brett-6b7vm]

I would say the steering wheel is a modern homage to the AMG steering wheels of old

[Abarth131]

Augustus Windsock said:

I’ve given it one (1) star, just doesn’t equate to €700k for me, and I wonder how many will actually be made and sold..?

Good point

[Silvanus]

That's a miserable looking interior, like sitting inside a coal chute.

[s m]

brett-6b7vm said:

I would say the steering wheel is a modern homage to the AMG steering wheels of old

Very “Italvolanti-ish”


My 700k would go elsewhere - probably get a few different retro mods

[Maxym]

Love the idea. Wish it didn't look so extreme. If it looked just like a 2.5-16, that would do me nicely. Assuming I could find a suitable donor car.

[Deessee]

Wheel looks incongruous and it’s a shame they’ve gone down the quilted leather route. All a bit Kahn/Urban.

But let’s celebrate switches and buttons

[MDL111]

I like it, it looks period correct - I assume I can get different materials / no cross stitch etc

[Jon_S_Rally]

I think that looks great personally. They've kept the character of the standard car but added a few touches to up the quality. It's very dark in black of course, but I'm sure they'll do it in whatever colour you like, so not really an issue.

[sidesauce]

Deessee said:

Wheel looks incongruous and it’s a shame they’ve gone down the quilted leather route. All a bit Kahn/Urban.

But let’s celebrate switches and buttons

So Mercedes, Ferrari, Bentley, Audi etc doing quilted leather interiors for literal decades is "all a bit Kahn/Urban". Got it.

[anonymous-user]

B10 said:

I would like it with beige fabric and wood trim please

I agree, that was my thoughts as soon as I seen the pictures.

That steering wheel is pretty hideous mind, it's not inleeping with the car and interior at all. A modern take on the old iconic merc wheel would have been far more fitting.

[Chestrockwell]

I saw this in the flesh at goodwood and it looks epic

I like the interior however I feel like they've missed a trick with the seats, it would have looked so much cooler with checkered fabric inserts