German Car Forum

After a 40 year stint at Mercedes-Benz, 30 years as its official design chief, automotive engineer and designer Peter Pfeiffer is set to retire. Pfeiffer, who turns 65 this year, first joined the carmaker back in 1968 and was promoted to head of design just ten years later. Mercedes is yet to name an official successor but a decision is expected to be announced soon.

Most likely to replace Pfeiffer is Gorden Wagener, the current president of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. Wagener has been in charge of the U.S. team since early 2006, reports Automotive News.
Pfeiffer has had an influential role on nearly every Mercedes-Benz model to be launched in the 30 years that he’s been design chief. Some of the standouts include the SLR supercar, CLS four-door coupe and the ungainly R-Class, for which he received a red dot design award.

Pfeiffer was born in 1943 in Dallwitz near Karlsbad, Germany. After graduating from the Sel Porcelain and Industrial Design State Technical College back in 1963, Pfeiffer joined Ford-Werke AG as a designer before teaming up with Mercedes five years later.


Source: Motor Authority >> Mercedes-Benz design chief to retire after 40 years

Interesting. So him and Sacco worked together for a lot of that time.

M

I'm expecting a sad atmosphere in this thread...

I guess that will depend on who replaces him.

M

After all the great cars he designed at Mercedes, he deserves to retire and enjoy the rest of his life!

I'm not sad. I'll be eager to see what Gordon Wagener has in store.

Will be interesting to see who replaces him, where he has been involved, what he has worked on and where this will take MB design.

That the rumoured replacement is from the US or heads the US design department, I hope the vehicles do not become any more American. I'd like to see a return to German design purity.

Can we get Sacco back?

M

More info on Gordon people?

Yeah, the last thing you guys at MB need is your version of Bangle...

Didn't sacco retired only in 2000 ?

SOME INFO:

Feb 20, 2006 – German designer Gorden Wagener, 37, has been appointed President of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America. Beginning his new position on January 1. 2006, Wagener now focuses on products specifically for North America, including production and show cars as well as advanced projects. The Californian studio will also compete with other Mercedes facilities in Germany and Japan for the opportunity to develop products for European and Asian markets.

Previously Gorden Wagener was Head of Exterior / Interior Styling for the A-/B-/C-/E-Class platforms. His achievements include the exterior design of the second-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK and A-Class, the new S-Class and the GST concept that previewed the R-Class.

Before joining Mercedes-Benz nine years ago, Wagener worked for General Motors in Frankfurt after finishing his studies at the Royal College of Art, London in 1994. He also worked briefly at Mazda and Volkswagen between these positions. In his new role, Wagener will report directly to Professor Peter Pfieffer, Senior Vice President of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars.

Not a bad guy it seems.

M

Gorden Wagener, President Mercedes-Benz, Advanced Design of North America | Lou Ann Hammond on carlist.com

This guy seems VERY young. He's also responsible for the Ocean Drive Concept.

LOL I wouldn't mind Bangle 2 for MB. Someone who manages to revolutionise MB design but still manages to honour it's principles. Bangle did manage to do that at BMW. Problem is that while some of his creations are stunning, others I honestly find repulsive.

But back to the topic of MB design...

I see, so you wouldn't mind your beloved next gen S class to look like E65?

No thanks...I expect the next Gen S to be FAR better looking then the E65!

Gorden is also responsible for the current S, C, CL, and upcomming E.

Im März 1999 übergab Bruno Sacco nach 41 Jahren im Mercedes-Benz Design die Bereichsleitung an Peter Pfeiffer.




Bruno Sacco – Wikipedia

I hope it will not be a Bangle-type "revolution"...The BMW only begins to look like something again...

Thing is, even if MB changes his styling direction, we can trust Audi to still build the same exact car as now in 20 years...

I'm curious to see what this new guy will do. I like the ODC, and he worked on all major MB projects, so he's not like a Bangle who came out of nowhere and changed everything bar the Hofmeister Kinck at BMW...

Afayac...

lol. But with LED's in the door handles, roof racks and rear bumper.

Yes, of course! I'm only giving my personal opinion here!
I wouldn't like such a radical change for Mercedes.

So there were two design chiefs at Mercedes ? Cause according to the first article he was promoted as chief designer in 78.

I don't know much about Gordon Wagoner and much less about the Mercedes/Chrysler model he penned.

Peter Pfeiffer was supposed to have left many years ago (a couple of years after the merger between Daimler Benz and Chrysler). But Pfeiffer decided to stay on because he enjoyed the power, glamour, and the American style (BIG) remuneration packet that all of the German managers got after the merger. Furthermore, Pfeiffer had the support of Jurgen Schrempp and Jurgen Hubbert to stay on as the Head of Design.

At that time (the last 1990's and early 2000), the leading candidate to succeed Peter Pfeiffer was Murat Gunak. Gunak is a Turkish designer and he had been one of the leading lights of the Mercedes Benz design team for many years. Gunak left after Pfeiffer reversed his decision to retire and hand over the reins. Gunak is now the Head of Design of the Volkswagen Group. The other internal candidate was Olivier Boulay. He is French and is still the Head of the Mercedes Design Studio in Tokyo.

Many talented designers such as Steve Mattin, Peter Arcadipane, Anthony Lo, Michael Mauer, etc have left Mercedes Benz in recent years. Steve Mattin is now Design Director at Volvo, Anthony Lo is now Head of Design at SAAB, Michael Mauer is now Head of Design at Porsche. Peter Arcadipane went to Hyundai briefly and then to Mitsubishi and is now a free agent (if my memory serves me correctly).

I think the CLS showed Mercedes has not lost the magic. But the recent scoop shots of the next E Class looks a little disconcerting.............................the strong and deep shoulder lines along the profiles have had the car look fat and and tall (granted the scooped cars have small wheels and tyres).

Let's see what Gordon Wagoner and the rest of the new and talented designers can come up with in the next few years.

Good, hopefully we'll see more consistency in the designs. It bugs me that some MB models are stunning work of art while others aren't as perfected. What I want to see is stunning craft across the entire range.

Good, now we might see better "facelifts"