As some of the more dedicated Mercedes-Benz aficionados know, Mercedes-Benz recently celebrated three decades from two major events in their history.
The launch of the original sporty “Baby Benz” - in the shape of the Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (W201) - and the no less than twelve speed and distance records using three pre-production prototypes of the model.
Also known as the Cosworth version of the Mercedes-Benz 190 E, the 2.3-16 model was using a Cosworth-tuned four-cylinder engine capable of 185 hp, which pretty much made it like a primordial C 63 AMG, if you like.
The dozen speed and distance records were made at the Nardo high-speed test track, in Italy, between 11 and 21 August 1983, about a month before the production version of the 190 E 2.3-16 was actually unveiled in front of the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Thirty years later, Mercedes-Benz returned at the “scene” in Nardo, bringing all the three-pointed star offsprings that the W201's arrival made happen over the years, including all the C-Class models apart from the upcoming W205 one. On site we also found Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador and F1 champion Mika Hakkinen, who tells us a few words about the records and what they meant in the following video.
Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project. Full profile
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