First look at ‘retro-modern’ HWA EVO cabin

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…