Baby Benz,
Transformed
The Mercedes-Benz 190E W201 was the compact entry point into the Mercedes range in the 1980s — practical, refined, and understated. LOTEC saw it differently. The 190E received a complete GRP wide-body conversion: flared wheel arches, a deep front apron, side skirts, and a revised rear. The transformation turned the compact saloon into something altogether more aggressive.
The engine conversion was equally thorough. LOTEC's turbocharger installation — identifiable by the signature red LOTEC cam cover — was TÜV approved, meaning it was fully road-legal and could be registered without issue. The red cam cover became a recognisable mark of LOTEC's work on Mercedes engines.
Like the 300 CE conversion, the LOTEC 190E found a particularly enthusiastic reception in Japan. Several examples were exported, where they remain sought-after today as examples of 1980s German tuning at its most committed.
Road-Legal Turbo Conversions
All LOTEC turbo engine conversions for Mercedes vehicles were developed with official TÜV certification from 1985 onwards. This meant that unlike many aftermarket turbo installations of the era, LOTEC conversions were fully road-legal, insurable, and could be entered in the vehicle registration documents. The TÜV approval reflected LOTEC's commitment to engineering standards rather than simply maximum power output.