1982 Mercedes-Benz 190 (W201) Photos, engines & full specs

Mercedes-Benz was known for its luxury cars, and that’s why the German automaker took everyone by surprise in 1982 when it unveiled the small-sized sedan 190 at the Paris Motor Show in France.

Development of this new model began in 1976 after the CAFE agreement came into force in the U.S., and Mercedes-Benz knew it needed to lower its cars’ fuel consumption. The first try was to introduce diesel engines, which was a good idea in terms of efficiency but bad in terms of performance. It was just a temporary fix from the automaker until a new generation of vehicles was ready to meet their clients. The first of the new generation of improved vehicles was the W201, which was badged as the 190.

Bruno Sacco signed the 190’s styling and advocated a common design language for Mercedes-Benz cars. The wedged-shaped vehicle had flat panels, rounded edges, and a low roofline. At the front, the W201 sported rectangular headlights and corner-mounted blinkers. A chromed grille adorned by three horizontal slats stood between them. Below, the plastic bumper also served as an aerodynamic element, creating a raked lower apron. On the sides, at the same level as the bumper, Sacco placed plastic moldings on the fenders and door panels, creating a wrap-around protection for the vehicle.

Inside, the car proved to be very spacious for its size and offered customers a similar comfort level as in an S-Class. The flowing line of the upper side of the dashboard was mixed with the wedged shapes of the rectangular vents and center stack. Fronting the driver was an instrument panel that sported the speedometer in the middle, flanked by a few gauges on a round dial on the left and the tachometer on the right. The comfortable bucket seats at the front were comfortable and covered in fabric, while leather upholstery was available. In the back, the bench seat was suitable for two adults. Still, there was limited room for a third, middle-seated rear occupant, but with less legroom due to the transmission tunnel. Customers could choose the vehicle with air conditioning, cassette player, sunroof, power windows, and mirrors.

On the engineering side, the 190 was revolutionary. It was the first car in the world to feature a five-link independent rear suspension at a time when many other automakers still relied on solid axles that couldn’t provide a similar level of comfort. In addition, the redeveloped strut-type front suspension ran smoother over bumps and road irregularities. In 1982, Mercedes-Benz introduced the car with a choice of two gasoline engines. A year later, at the 1983 Frankfurt International Motor Show, the automaker added a turbo-diesel into the equation and the surprisingly powerful 2.3-liter powerplant with 16 valves, an engine developed together with the British engineering company Cosworth. Power went to the rear wheels only via a choice of four- or five-speed manual gearboxes or a four-speed automatic. The car was constantly updated and upgraded until 1993 when the final model left the assembly lines after more than 1.8 million units had been produced.