Two Birthdays For Mercedes-Benz In Geneva
At this year’s Geneva International Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz has a few reasons to celebrate. Not only are their current crop of vehicles one of the best it has ever had, but 2015 also marked the anniversary of two important models in the brand’s history: the 190 SL and the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II.
60 years ago, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the 190 SL, a roadster that was aimed at those wanting a topless driving experience in a luxurious vehicle. The car was powered by a 1.9-litre engine developing 105 horsepower thanks to a ground-breaking technology: double overhead cams. Production started a few months after the auto show (in May 1955, to be more precise), and its success was immediate; 25,881 units were built during the car’s production run. Nearly half of those were sent to the United States, where convertibles were very popular.
The other vehicle is much younger; it just turned 25 years-old. The 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II was Mercedes-Benz’s answer to the BMW E30 M3, which was winning nearly every event in the DTM racing series. With its 2.5-litre powerplant, the sedan had 235 horsepower to play with, which was enough to do a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7 seconds and helped it secure a few wins against its Munich opponent. The EVO II was presented for the first time at the 1990 Geneva Motor Show.