This 765-HP Evo II Restomod Keeps the Engine Mercedes Fans Never Expected

The Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution II has become the kind of car that inspires bold ideas. HWA proved that with its stunning reinterpretation, and now another company wants to leave its own mark.

Italian startup Vespera Automobili has unveiled the Iride Evo 5, a modern take on the legendary sports sedan that stays true to the original's character while turning the performance up several notches.

From a distance, it still looks every bit like an Evo II. Get closer, and the details start to reveal themselves. The body is now wrapped in carbon fiber, with wider fenders adding 3.9 inches to each side, a deeper front bumper, an oversized splitter, and a towering rear wing.

The launch car wears Montreal Green, a color borrowed from Alfa Romeo, paired with gold OZ Racing wheels that suit the boxy silhouette surprisingly well. The interior is still being completed, although Vespera says it will receive the same level of attention as the exterior.

The biggest talking point sits beneath the hood. Unlike HWA, which swapped in a modern twin-turbo V6, Vespera kept the classic Mercedes M103 inline-six and gave it a serious overhaul. The engine now displaces 3.0 liters, features forged internals, and breathes through a massive turbocharger.

Output climbs to an astonishing 765 hp and 671 lb-ft of torque, enough for a claimed 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph. Those are numbers few would associate with a sedan that first appeared in the late 1980s.

The Iride Evo 5 is still a one-off, although Vespera hopes to build more in the future. Pricing is under wraps, but HWA's $770,000 Evo gives a good idea of what buyers might expect.