Episode Details

The Original Baby Benz

The Mercedes-Benz 190E is, and always will be, a great car. Introduced in 1982, it was internally known as the W201, and it wasn't designed to be a cheap Mercedes. It was designed to be a small Mercedes. A literal mini S-Class, it was built with no cost too great, and the results were spectacular. Drive one today, and it still feels contemporary, maybe even more comfortable than a lot of new cars out there.

It came with an array of engines, from the 72 hp 2.0-liter diesels in the base 190D, to the mighty 2.5-16 Evo II that ruled the European racing scene. Today, these are fantastic practical classics that rarely get a foot wrong. Restoring one is still relatively easy, but there are those willing to go to the extreme restomod route to keep the car's legacy alive.

Meet the Vespera Iride Evo 5

For those who want to take things to the extreme, that's where Vespera Automobili comes in. Dubbed the Irede Evo 5, it's clear from the get-go that Vespera drew inspiration from the 2.5-16 Evo II, but this one has been reimagined with exotic materials and modern tech.

While it sounds like a different take on the HWA Evo, the Irede Evo 5 is rather proud of the fact that it's a restomod. The folks from HWA would be offended if you called its reincarnated 190E DTM racer the same thing.

New Skin

The car may look like a bewinged and widened version of the much-loved compact executive sedan from the '80s, but this one wears a carbon fiber skin. Of course, the suspension has been reworked, including a much wider track over the standard 190. There are more bits of carbon, of course, along with other high-grade materials used for the chassis upgrades.

For now, the interior is a work in progress, but Vespera promised four things about it. It'll use carbon, as well as military-derived materials for durability, along with a selection of leather fabrics for interested clients to mix and match. Each interior will be bespoke thanks to a high degree of customization and personalization.

The Mechanicals

Those familiar with Mercedes-Benz engines will know what M103 means. It was the inline-six engine available in most Mercedes models from the '80s, and that forms the foundation of the car's powertrain. It's the 3.0-liter version that resides under the hood of the Iride Evo 5, and it's practically the same one used in the early versions of the W124 300E. That engine originally made 177 hp and 188 lb-ft, but this one gets a host of mods and a healthy amount of boost to crank it up to 755 hp and 671 lb-ft.

That engine is then mated to