The W 201 marked Mercedes-Benz's return to motor sport at the end of the eighties after a break of over 20 years: AMG took part in the German Touring Car Championship in Mercedes' name. In order to maximise its chances, Mercedes-Benz produced in 1989 an Evolution series of the 190 E 2.5-16 which conformed to Group A regulations. The four-cylinder engine of this car that was to serve as the basis for Mercedes-Benz's new venture into motor sport has a shorter stroke (82.8 mm) than the standard 2.5-16 model (87.2 mm) to boost the engine speed. The Evolution's chassis has self-leveling suspension front and back (back only in the production version) and eight-inch instead of seven-inch wheels.