Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W201) Photos, engines & full specs

When Mercedes-Benz introduced the M107 16V engine under the hood of the W201 in 1983, the 190 E 2.3-16 became an instant hit and the base model for race cars.

During the development program of the 190 model, codenamed W201, the German automaker considered entering into the World Rally Championship. But all those ideas were abruptly changed when Audi launched the S1 quattro and dominated races. Mercedes-Benz understood that its rear-wheel driven car wouldn't stand a chance against the mighty all-wheel drive turbocharged machinery from Ingolstadt. As a result, it focused on circuit racing and developed the 2.3-liter 16-valve powerplant together with Cosworth Engineering. The engine block was the same as the one installed in the 2.3-liter 8 valves but with a cylinder head built in the United Kingdom and shipped to Germany for final installation.

Besides the technical upgrades, there were significant improvements in the car's aesthetics. When Bruno Sacco penned the 190 lineup, he knew it would get a sportier version, so he was prepared to alter the vehicle's shape to match the powerplant's performance. As a result, the 2.3-16 version was slightly different in terms of styling, and every change he made was to improve its performance and aerodynamics.

At the front, the car featured a lower air dam that wasn't tilted rearward like in the rest of the range, but it was almost vertical and sported a chin underneath it. On the door panels and fenders, the automaker placed bodycolor molding extended downwards with side skirts that also blocked the air and diminished the ground effect that slowed the car. Finally, at the back, Mercedes-Benz completed the aerodynamic package with a small wing on the trunk and a bumper extended with an apron to lower the drag resistance. All these modifications led to a Cd of just 0.32, which was excellent for those times.

Inside, the 190 E 2.3-16 received a luxurious interior. At the front, the automaker installed sports seats with high-bolstered areas and standard leather upholstery, while at the back, the car had a bench seat profiled for two passengers. There was no room for a third person there. Vehicles sold in the U.S. came with just three options: heated seats, sunroof, and rear headrests. In front of the driver, the automaker placed the same instrument panel as in the rest of the 190 E range, but it added two gauges and a stopwatch on the lower side of the center stack.

The 190 E 2.3-16 was available with a five-speed manual gearbox that featured a dog-leg pattern, meaning that the first gear was lower to the left instead of upper to the left as in most of the manual transmission transmissions, and all vehicles came fitted with a limited-slip differential. The European version of the 190 E 2.3-16 offered 185 PS (183 hp) instead of just 169 PS (167 hp) for the U.S. model due to stricter emissions standards.

The 190 E 2.3-16 paved the way for the German automaker to have a strong relationship with the AMG racing company, which later became an official supplier of Mercedes-Benz high-performance cars and, starting in 1999, part of the three-pointed star company.