1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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Welcome to my review of the 1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II! This ispart of the “review in a few” series where I show off all the main features of a model, ratherthan fully going into the history and background of the real car and posting a limitednumber of pictures for you to drool over.

The story begins with the bog-standard Mercedes-Benz 190E, internally designated as theW201. It was launched in December 1982 as their entry-level luxury car. The ‘E’ stood forEinspritzung (fuel injection) and featured a 2-litre in-line 4 petrol engine pushing out 122hp.

1982 Mercedes-Benz 190E – front view. Credit: Autoevolution

1982 Mercedes-Benz 190E – rear view. Credit: Autoevolution

In 1984, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 185hp 190E 2.3-16 which affectionately becameknown as the ‘Cosworth’, because the British automotive engineering company fettled withthe engine. The main aim of this particular variant was to take the fight to the BMW E30 M3in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). However, regulations stipulated that carsracing in this championship had to be based on a roadgoing model. Building upon the cast-iron block from Mercedes’ 2.3-litre 8-valve engine, Cosworth made a new aluminium twin-cam 16-valve head amongst other key changes.

1984 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 – front view. Credit: Autocar

In 1988, a 2.5-litre engine replaced the 2.3-litre which saw power increase from 185hp to204hp. With the debut of the BMW M3 Sport Evolution, Mercedes-Benz knew they had toturn the wick up a notch and promptly launched the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution at the 1989Geneva Motor Show. On the outside, the Evolution (or Evo I as it would later come to be

1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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called) sported a large rear spoiler and wider wheel arches to give it a really butch look!There were many changes under the skin too, including new brakes and a revisedsuspension system with adjustable ride height. While the power output itself was verysimilar to the standard 2.5-16, the Evo I had some key engine changes that allowed for ahigher rev limit and better power generation. A total of 502 units were produced to satisfythe DTM homologation rules and customers could also option an AMG-engineeredPowerPack that increased the power by 30hp to a 232hp total.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution I – front view. Credit: Mercedes

Then just a year later at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 1990, theMercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II premiered. Yet another homologation model limitedto just 502 examples built, the Evo II featured the AMG PowerPack as standard. This meantit kicked out 232hp @ 7,200rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000rpm.

1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II – front view. Credit: Mercedes

Exterior-wise, it had a massive rear adjustable wing, roof-mounted rear spoiler and unique17-inch alloy wheels. Of those 502 examples produced, 500 of them were made inBlauschwarz (blue/black metallic) and the final two off the line were painted in Astral Silver,making these two super rare!

1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II – side view. Credit: Mercedes

1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II – rear view. Credit: Mercedes

1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II – interior view. Credit: Bring a Trailer

Solido is one of those model brands that has been around for a heck of a long time – chancesare even your grandparents have heard of it! Their website has a great section dedicated to

1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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the history of the brand here, but if you want the brief lesson here we go… Created in 1934by Frenchman, Ferdinand de Vazeilles, the company quickly gained a reputation throughoutthe world of making quality model cars! They were a huge rival to Dinky Toys in themid-1950s and was bought by Majorette in 1980. In 2003 they were then bought by Smoby,which in turn was bought by the Simba-Dickie Group in 2008.In 2006 Solido faced beingwiped off the map after Smoby closed the factory, but luckily for collectors all around theworld, Simba-Dickie gave the brand over to Z Models (of OttOmobile and GT Spirit fame) in2015 to manage. And boy have they managed it well! I strongly recommend you follow theirFacebook page because they are always showing off new releases.

After that little stroll down memory lane, here is the 1:18 scale model of the Mercedes-Benz190E 2.5-16 Evolution II in Blauschwarz. Due to its budget price, only the two front doorsopen on this model but the front wheels do steer. I just want to extend a huge thank you toSolido for sending me this model to review!

1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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So what is my quick opinion of this model? I think Solido have been bashing out qualityreleases for a short while now and their 2021 footprint looks set to be a corker, with brandslike McLaren, Jaguar and Liberty Walk in the works. These models retail for between €40-€50 and for that price they are a really great way for parents/grandparents to get their kidsinvolved in model car collecting. After all, they’re the next generation who we will beleaving our models to and they need to learn to appreciate the art of the scale model form!Best of all, even us more seasoned collectors should be snapping these up because they lookamazing on display, regardless of price!

1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review

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Thanks for reading this detailed review of the 1:18 SolidoMercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution 2 in black. Please feel freeto give your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

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