Tag Archives: Mercedes-Benz

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HWA Confirms 2026 Nürburgring 24h Entry with 190E EVO Restomod

HWA, the performance engineering firm renowned for its deep motorsport heritage, has officially confirmed its entry into the 2026 edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with its modernized tribute to a motorsport icon—the HWA EVO.

Based on the legendary Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II, the HWA EVO is a restomod masterpiece that blends classic DTM styling with cutting-edge engineering. Now, the company has adapted its road-legal version for full competition duty on one of the world’s toughest tracks: the Nürburgring Nordschleife, also known as the “Green Hell.”

“Motorsport is in our DNA, and therefore in the DNA of the HWA EVO,” said Martin Marx, CEO of HWA AG, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to high-performance racing.

Two race-prepped HWA EVOs will compete in the SP-X class—a category reserved for unique or experimental vehicles. While the EVO already boasted formidable specifications, the race versions have undergone significant upgrades in performance, safety, and weight optimization.

Under the hood, the EVO features a 3.0-liter Mercedes V6 engine, likely the 24-valve M276 with a dry sump system, tuned to deliver over 450 horsepower. Despite modern comforts in the road version, the track variant has been trimmed down to just 1,350 kilograms.

Stopping power is handled by high-performance six-piston caliper brakes, while the car’s DTM-inspired suspension and aerodynamic enhancements—including flared wheel arches and a prominent rear wing—echo the visual aggression of the original 190E Evo II. That car famously clinched the 1992 DTM championship, ending BMW’s dominance with the E30 M3.

Lending their extensive racing expertise to the development of the race car are former DTM stars Roland Asch and Klaus Ludwig, who played crucial roles in Mercedes-Benz’s racing success during the golden era of touring car competition.

As the motorsport world looks ahead to 2026, anticipation is mounting to see if the HWA EVO can live up to its illustrious roots and carve a new legacy on the Nürburgring.

Source: HWA

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HWA Confirms 2026 Nürburgring 24h Entry with 190E EVO Restomod
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Electric Vehicle Plans Stalled by Market Hesitation

At the start of the 2020s, the automotive industry boldly charted a course toward an all-electric future, with many leading manufacturers pledging to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2030. However, the tide appears to be turning. Major carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, and BMW are now tempering their ambitions, citing lagging consumer demand and market variability as key reasons for their recalibrated strategies.

Mercedes-Benz: A Strategic Pivot

Mercedes-Benz is among the first to publicly adjust its course. While the German automaker continues to invest in electric models like the GLC and CLA—both of which are expected to bolster EV sales—the brand is not ready to abandon traditional engines. Gasoline and diesel variants will remain available for at least another decade.

This decision is partially a response to underwhelming global sales of its EQS and EQE electric models, which failed to meet expectations. The new GLC will be built on the modular MB.EA platform and offered exclusively as an electric vehicle, while the CLA will take a dual-track approach, available as both an EV with cutting-edge 800-volt technology and a mild hybrid model. This reflects a more pragmatic and flexible strategy, in tune with real-world market demand.

BMW: Electric Skepticism Meets Strategic Hedging

BMW, which has long favored a multi-platform approach, is doubling down on its strategy. CEO Oliver Zipse has openly called electric vehicles a “dead end,” suggesting that the market may not fully transition as quickly as many had hoped. The upcoming iX3, built with 800-volt architecture, will serve as the electric sibling to the conventional X3, while the new i3—set to resemble the classic 3 Series—will integrate extended-range technology, with a gasoline engine acting as a generator.

This diversified approach allows BMW to hedge against the uncertainties of global EV adoption, balancing innovation with familiarity.

Audi and Volkswagen: Backpedaling on Bold Promises

Three years ago, Audi vowed to launch its last ICE models by 2025 and become fully electric in new vehicle launches by 2026. But the brand is now reconsidering this timeline. CEO Gernot Döllner recently told Autocar that Audi may continue producing petrol-powered cars until at least 2035, depending on customer demand.

Volkswagen echoes this caution. Although the company plans to produce an all-electric Golf, it also anticipates maintaining production of its combustion engine counterpart for at least another decade. This marks a significant shift from its earlier commitments to rapid electrification.

A Global Patchwork of Progress

Automakers are increasingly recognizing that global markets are moving toward electromobility at different paces. While regions like Europe and China are more EV-focused, others remain reliant on traditional engines. This disparity is prompting companies to create “safety nets” by retaining ICE models longer than originally intended.

Toyota stands out as a leader in this flexible approach. As the world’s largest carmaker, it has long pursued a diversified portfolio—including hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells, and battery-electric vehicles—offering a model of balanced innovation that other manufacturers are now beginning to emulate.

Uncertain Policy Future

The EU’s current legislation mandates a phase-out of new ICE vehicles by 2035, effectively banning them from the market. Yet, with major automakers recalibrating their strategies, questions are emerging about whether this regulation will hold firm—or be revised to reflect market realities.

The electric dream is far from dead, but it is evolving. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, carmakers are now embracing diversity in their powertrains, striving to align with consumer preferences, technological advancements, and geopolitical factors. As the 2030s approach, the road to a fully electric future appears more complex—and more flexible—than previously imagined.

Source: Autocar

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Mercedes-Benz Adjusts Course, Maintains Dual Gas-Electric Lineup

Just days after Audi revealed it would extend the life of its gasoline-powered cars beyond its original timeline, Mercedes-Benz has made a similar course correction, signaling a broader hesitation within the German auto industry about a full transition to electric vehicles (EVs).

Mercedes-Benz Group CEO Ola Källenius acknowledged in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport that the company is revising its strategy and will continue offering internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles for longer than previously planned. “Electrified high-tech internal combustion engines will remain on offer for longer than we originally expected,” Källenius said, emphasizing a dual-track approach combining gasoline and electric technologies.

Mercedes had earlier committed to shifting to an all-electric lineup “where market conditions allow” by 2030. However, Källenius now argues that a mixed powertrain strategy is the most practical path forward in light of slower-than-expected consumer adoption of EVs. “In the current situation, I think the most rational approach is for an established manufacturer like Mercedes to do both technologies and not neglect either one,” he added.

This shift mirrors a broader trend among legacy automakers scaling back aggressive electrification timelines, prompting concerns about the overall health of the EV market. Some observers have interpreted these moves as evidence of waning interest in electric cars.

However, data tells a different story.

Despite challenges faced by individual automakers — including a 23% year-over-year drop in EV sales for Mercedes-Benz in 2024 — the electric vehicle sector remains in growth mode. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global EV sales surged by more than 25% in 2024, totaling around 17 million units.

Further momentum is expected this year. BloombergNEF’s annual Electric Vehicle Outlook projects a 25% rise in sales of plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles in 2025, with nearly 22 million units anticipated to hit the roads. Much of this growth, however, is concentrated in China, where market conditions, government policies, and consumer preferences significantly differ from those in Europe.

Industry analysts caution against drawing sweeping conclusions based on moves by a few automakers. While it’s clear that some carmakers are struggling to meet ambitious EV targets, the global trend still points toward electrification — albeit with regional variations and a slower pace than some had hoped.

As Mercedes-Benz and other automotive giants recalibrate their timelines, the road to a fully electric future appears less linear than once envisioned, but still firmly underway.

Source: Mercedes-Benz, Auto Motor und Sport