You remember the Mercedes-Benz 190, the W201 “Baby Benz” that was launched in 1983. By the time production ended in 1993, M-B had built 1.9 million examples, in a variety of versions. Among them were the original 190 with its carbureted 2-liter four, the “whisper diesel” 190 D, the fuel-injected 190 E, the made-for-North-America 190 E 2.3, the six-cylinder 190 E 2.6, and the high-performance 190 E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16, with a Cosworth-developed 16-valve twin-cam cylinder head. And then there were the models built to homologate M-B’s entries in the German Touring Car Masters series, the wild 190 E 2.5-16 Evo I and the 190 E 2.5-16 Evo II.
There’s another branch of the family that never made it to North America: the Avantgardes. These candy-colored sedans – the azzurra (blue), the rosso (red) and the verde (green) – were launched on the 10th anniversary of the W201’s introduction, intended to breathe a little new life into the model and draw a younger crowd into the showroom. Each of these limited-production models featured distinctive paintwork and upholstery, and each had a distinctive niche.
In its Avantgarde catalog – printed only in German, so far as we can tell – Mercedes explained its thinking: “Our 190s have always been high quality, safe and reliable cars. Today, however, many customers want more. They want to sit in a car that they do not see everywhere, which is specifically tailored to them. A trend that is independent of gender and passes through all ages. That is why we now bring out three Avantgarde models in limited edition and at specified trim levels. Although they are built on the basis of the proven 190, but look quite different from what you are used to from Mercedes-Benz.” (Thanks, Google translate.)
The Avantgarde rosso, was the least costly of the three, though still expensive at 49,875DM, or nearly $31,000. According to the brochure, the rosso was meant to be the arty member of the trio, finished in a metallic red that extended to the lower body panels, the bumpers and the mirrors. The 15-hole alloy wheels were standard equipment, too.
It was on the inside that the rosso truly dazzled. This was not your grandfather’s Mercedes-Benz! The rosso’s upholstery, called “Arcade,” was “inspired by the modern art museum, as well as by New York graffiti painting,” the carmaker said. The material covered not only the seating surfaces, but the headrests and the door panels, too. Standard equipment included a five-speed manual gearbox and the 1.8-liter fuel-injected four, rated at 107 horsepower.
For the ecologically-minded who liked a bit of luxury and style, there was the verde. Powered by the 2.5-liter, five-cylinder diesel, this model was classified as a very-low-emission vehicle, thanks to its catalyst and EGR system. Shimmering, dark green paint lent the car an air of “elegance and charisma,” M-B said. The verde had a sticker price of at 54,500DM, or about $34,000.
The green theme carried over to the interior, with black-on-green and green-on-black “Anton” fabric. M-B pointed out that it was not just comfortable, but soothing to the eye, as well.
Finally, there was the sporty member of the trio: the azzurro. Powered by a fuel-injected, 2.3-liter four rated at 134 hp, the azzurro also featured Mercedes’ Sportline suspension, which was 20 percent stiffer than the stock suspension and lowered the ride height by 23mm. The metallic blue paint and silver alloy wheels, M-B said, “make it look beautiful from a distance as a competitive athlete.” The azzurro was by far the costliest of the three, priced at 65,500DM, or about $40,500.
Unlike the other Avantgardes, the azzurra featured individual rear seats with aggressive bolsters. Each seat had its own color accent, with door piping and carpet trims to match. Yet, “the black tone of the interior ensures that in spite of the strong splash of color, a classically-stylish look remains.”
The cars were built in small numbers; the rosso was the most popular, with 2,300 built, followed by the azzurro at 950, and the verde at 750. Today, in Germany, the cars are sought-after. In three years, they will have cleared our federally-mandated 25-year limbo, and become eligible for importation into the U.S.
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