Autoblog

HWA is the racing operation set up by AMG founder Hans-Werner Aufrecht to build and campaign many of the Mercedes Benz competition vehicles including the current C-Class DTM cars. HWA has also built some very limited production road going machines for Stuttgart, including the CLK-GTR that were based on the FIA GT racers of the mid-nineties.

HWA continues to be a separate entity from Mercedes even though the mother ship has owned AMG since 1999, but they still work together and are now planning a new coupe that will fit into the gap between Mercedes' current flagship SL55 AMG and the mighty McLaren built SLR. The new car will be built and primarily developed by HWA and is targeted to have performance comparable to current DTM racers. A second car that will essentially be an EVO model of an existing AMG car will be the followup.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

As previously reported, Mercedes and McLaren have parted ways, and development of the new M.B. supercar has been assigned to HWA AG, an operation directly connected to AMG.

We're already aware that the new Mercedes' halo will be sporting a 6.2-liter V8 – the same engine employed in several other AMG-massaged vehicles – but what we didn't know is that Mercedes and HWA plan to unveil their lovechild at the Geneva Motor Show next March, and they expect it to compete with the R8.

That last bit left us a trifle confused, as the R8 was built to compete with other high-end sports cars, including the Porsche 911 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Mercedes already has several vehicles that flirt with that price point, although some may argue none are capable of the visceral thrills the others offer.

We'll be on hand to see the concept coupe unveiled next year, but in the meantime, we'd invite you to speculate about what HWA and Mercedes have planned.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]

When Mercedes-Benz bought out controlling interest in AMG in 1991, its founder Hans-Werner Aufrecht was allowed to set up a separate enterprise to continue its motor racing activities in cooperation with Mercedes-Benz. So the firm bearing his initials HWA was born, and they continue to field Mercedes AMG cars in the popular DTM touring car series and producing the Mercedes Formula 3 engine for purchase by private teams.

Aufrecht has remained at the helm of the company ever since, but pushing 68 as he is, HWA is looking towards the future. In order to raise funds to secure the company's continued viability, HWA is floating five million shares and searching for a successor to Aufrecht, having invited former Mercedes CEO Jurgen Hubbert to chair their board. All the common enthusiast sees is Mercedes taking checkered flags – the news gives us a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Mercedes sphere and their racing activities.

[Source: GrandPrix.com]