1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II Review
Categories 1:18, Models, Scale Model and Accessory Reviews
Welcome to my review of the 1:18 Solido Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II! This is part of the “review in a few” series where I show off all the main features of a model, rather than fully going into the history and background of the real car and posting a limited number of pictures for you to drool over.
The story begins with the bog-standard Mercedes-Benz 190E, internally designated as the W201. It was launched in December 1982 as their entry-level luxury car. The ‘E’ stood for Einspritzung (fuel injection) and featured a 2-litre in-line 4 petrol engine pushing out 122hp.
In 1984, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 185hp 190E 2.3-16 which affectionately became known as the ‘Cosworth’, because the British automotive engineering company fettled with the engine. The main aim of this particular variant was to take the fight to the BMW E30 M3 in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM). However, regulations stipulated that cars racing 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.
In 1988, a 2.5-litre engine replaced the 2.3-litre which saw power increase from 185hp to 204hp. With the debut of the BMW M3 Sport Evolution, Mercedes-Benz knew they had to turn the wick up a notch and promptly launched the 190E 2.5-16 Evolution at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show. On the outside, the Evolution (or Evo I as it would later come to be 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 revised suspension system with adjustable ride height. While the power output itself was very similar to the standard 2.5-16, the Evo I had some key engine changes that allowed for a higher rev limit and better power generation. A total of 502 units were produced to satisfy the DTM homologation rules and customers could also option an AMG-engineered PowerPack that increased the power by 30hp to a 232hp total.
Then just a year later at the Geneva International Motor Show in March 1990, the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II premiered. Yet another homologation model limited to just 502 examples built, the Evo II featured the AMG PowerPack as standard. This meant it kicked out 232hp @ 7,200rpm and 181 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000rpm.
Exterior-wise, it had a massive rear adjustable wing, roof-mounted rear spoiler and unique 17-inch alloy wheels. Of those 502 examples produced, 500 of them were made in Blauschwarz (blue/black metallic) and the final two off the line were painted in Astral Silver, making these two super rare!
Solido is one of those model brands that has been around for a heck of a long time – chances are even your grandparents have heard of it! Their website has a great section dedicated to the history of the brand here, but if you want the brief lesson here we go… Created in 1934 by Frenchman, Ferdinand de Vazeilles, the company quickly gained a reputation throughout the world of making quality model cars! They were a huge rival to Dinky Toys in the mid-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 being wiped off the map after Smoby closed the factory, but luckily for collectors all around the world, Simba-Dickie gave the brand over to Z Models (of OttOmobile and GT Spirit fame) in 2015 to manage. And boy have they managed it well! I strongly recommend you follow their Facebook 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-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II in Blauschwarz. Due to its budget price, only the two front doors open on this model but the front wheels do steer. I just want to extend a huge thank you to Solido for sending me this model to review!
So what is my quick opinion of this model? I think Solido have been bashing out quality releases for a short while now and their 2021 footprint looks set to be a corker, with brands like 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 kids involved in model car collecting. After all, they’re the next generation who we will be leaving 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 look amazing on display, regardless of price!
