Watch: this Mercedes 190E EVO II tribute uses a twin-turbo Raptor V6

Looks can be deceiving. This monstrous Mercedes might look like an original 190E EVO II but, under the skin, it's altogether different. 

First, a little bit of history. The EVO II arrived as a final-throw-of-the-dice homologation special in 1990, and finally gave Merc a DTM title in 1992. With its striking aero kit and Cosworth 2.5-litre engine making 232bhp in road-going trim, the EVO II is a Mercedes icon. Not to mention it's one of the coolest cars ever built. Naturally, that makes original EVO IIs really quite rare, and really quite expensive. 

So, enter Dom Tucci, an Industrial Designer at Tucci Hot Rods. With an original EVO II out of reach, he decided to use the learnings from his hot rod shop to build a personal tribute. Check it out above in the latest episode of American Tuned with Top Gear’s tuning correspondent Rob Dahm.