I would like to use this thread to point out how the designers at Mercedes missed it with the face/lift of the E, E63. How thay were so inconsistent with it`s design DNA. (I have used my own art impression to point out certain details of the front end…(if you like, you can to..) With a piece of paper and pencil, I had a little fun coming up with this quick rough.
Rough, meaning it` s only a short study in consistency with design work. Remember, there are a million ways to do this. I don`t know about anyone else but my personal theroy would be neutrality and coherency.
In this rough, I took the quads of the preface-lifted E-Class and brought the lenses in the headlight graphics closer together while making them slightly smaller and more mature looking, maintaining a level of Mercedes prestige and power. Using abstract language, I tried to make the headlights look like serious eyes with a more focused, buttoned down look and feel compared the eyes of the face/lifted E-Class the Merc designers used,( which are very fussy, poorly resolved and wonder out of focus to the human eye). The round headlight shape of the face/lift E is clearly inconsistent with it`s angular blue-print design. To me they look cock-eyed and fragmented in direct sunlight, from a head on view with those silly double-eye brows and tears.
The whole front end of the f/l E, (E63) is broken up pretty bad imo. It`s like Gorden said “look, I want my designers to be in separate rooms this time. The headlight designers in room A. The front bumper designers in room B. Don`t be running to my office for suggestions. Absolutely no talking among yourselves and no phone calls, not even outside my building. Now go, go!!”
l eliminated the meaningless double eyebrows and tears which look bug-eyed and alien imo. I added a single eyebrow over each eye for a more unified coherent look. (I wish to God the designers at Mercedes would have done this.) I also included slightly stronger outlines to the headlights, tying ends with the angular design language of the current E-Class.
The sports-car grill of the f/l E63 AMG has soft edges in design which again, is inconsistent to me. This grill is definitely more suited to the Merc coupes and sports car line where it should stay. It simply does not fit the status of the Mercedes 4-door cars.
Also, the lower air-dams of the f/l E63 are very square in shape with rounded soft edges that do not tie into the design language of the current E63. This packaging is too blocky, mixed up and is not attractive. (very untidy, polarizing design work imo.) So in this rough I took away the sports-car grill and added a more V shaped traditional grill with sharper edges. I also added more “A- frame” graphic in the outer lower air-dam openings with sharper cut-lines to again, tie-ends with the angular design language of the W212 E-Class. I tried to make these affects glorify the grill as the elements are pointing towards it.
These affects automatically cut down the blocky look and I believe, blend a little better with the current styling language of the E63. My idea here is to neutralize the front end with the rest of the car (no matter what schemes I use). This is my own personal theory though. If you feel differently and like what Mercedes has done feel free to state your opinions.
My main question in this short study is, why did the Mercedes designers not pay attention to details of the current E-Class and why did Gorden let the messy details of the new face/lift slip through his fingers. It`s quit obvious and unbelievable, and this is coming from a professional design studio.
Also, do you believe my scetch would be good enough to fit on the W212 E-Class face/lift. Thanks for your feedback.
Rough, meaning it` s only a short study in consistency with design work. Remember, there are a million ways to do this. I don`t know about anyone else but my personal theroy would be neutrality and coherency.
In this rough, I took the quads of the preface-lifted E-Class and brought the lenses in the headlight graphics closer together while making them slightly smaller and more mature looking, maintaining a level of Mercedes prestige and power. Using abstract language, I tried to make the headlights look like serious eyes with a more focused, buttoned down look and feel compared the eyes of the face/lifted E-Class the Merc designers used,( which are very fussy, poorly resolved and wonder out of focus to the human eye). The round headlight shape of the face/lift E is clearly inconsistent with it`s angular blue-print design. To me they look cock-eyed and fragmented in direct sunlight, from a head on view with those silly double-eye brows and tears.
The whole front end of the f/l E, (E63) is broken up pretty bad imo. It`s like Gorden said “look, I want my designers to be in separate rooms this time. The headlight designers in room A. The front bumper designers in room B. Don`t be running to my office for suggestions. Absolutely no talking among yourselves and no phone calls, not even outside my building. Now go, go!!”
l eliminated the meaningless double eyebrows and tears which look bug-eyed and alien imo. I added a single eyebrow over each eye for a more unified coherent look. (I wish to God the designers at Mercedes would have done this.) I also included slightly stronger outlines to the headlights, tying ends with the angular design language of the current E-Class.
The sports-car grill of the f/l E63 AMG has soft edges in design which again, is inconsistent to me. This grill is definitely more suited to the Merc coupes and sports car line where it should stay. It simply does not fit the status of the Mercedes 4-door cars.
Also, the lower air-dams of the f/l E63 are very square in shape with rounded soft edges that do not tie into the design language of the current E63. This packaging is too blocky, mixed up and is not attractive. (very untidy, polarizing design work imo.) So in this rough I took away the sports-car grill and added a more V shaped traditional grill with sharper edges. I also added more “A- frame” graphic in the outer lower air-dam openings with sharper cut-lines to again, tie-ends with the angular design language of the W212 E-Class. I tried to make these affects glorify the grill as the elements are pointing towards it.
These affects automatically cut down the blocky look and I believe, blend a little better with the current styling language of the E63. My idea here is to neutralize the front end with the rest of the car (no matter what schemes I use). This is my own personal theory though. If you feel differently and like what Mercedes has done feel free to state your opinions.
My main question in this short study is, why did the Mercedes designers not pay attention to details of the current E-Class and why did Gorden let the messy details of the new face/lift slip through his fingers. It`s quit obvious and unbelievable, and this is coming from a professional design studio.
Also, do you believe my scetch would be good enough to fit on the W212 E-Class face/lift. Thanks for your feedback.
