Karim Habib Returns to Head BMW Exterior Design

[7saen]

Good info. Seeing as to how you seem to have very interesting and coveted info on these great cars, do you know who was responsible for the actual design of the Mercedes W212 E-Class? Or the W221 S-Class? I assumed it was Wagener?

just got the info today.. sorry for the delay
The W212 was mostly designed by Hartmut Sinkwitz, former Smart chief designer and current Mercedes-Benz Interior Chief designer.
The W221 was mostly designed by Wagener

 

[K-A]

just got the info today.. sorry for the delay
The W212 was mostly designed by Hartmut Sinkwitz, former Smart chief designer and current Mercedes-Benz Interior Chief designer.
The W221 was mostly designed by Wagener

Thank you very much for that info! Looks like Sinkwitz has been moving up and fast within Daimler, from Smart, to Designing the Benz E-Class, to now being the Chief of Interior Design.

Looking forward to your future artwork.

 

[K-A]

Oh, one more question for anyone who might know or have the information on hand: Who Designed the original, and also new CLS's? I assume Hubert Lee did the newest one?

Car Design is so fascinating to me. As a kid I think my first "dream job" was to be a Car Designer. To this day, when I think about it, I almost have this pipe dream to start learning and go after it, although, I'm fortunate enough to be living another one of my dream jobs already.

Anyway, I'm a horrible, HORRIBLE drawer and I my handwriting looks like I'm in Kindergarden, so I don't think I'm too fit for it.

 

[EnI]

just got the info today.. sorry for the delay
The W212 was mostly designed by Hartmut Sinkwitz, former Smart chief designer and current Mercedes-Benz Interior Chief designer.
The W221 was mostly designed by Wagener

And I'm hearing Robert Lesnik (ex. VW exterior designer: Eos, Passat, Scirocco ; then KIA exterior designer: Soul) has designed the exterior of W222.

 

[Human]

Anyway, I'm a horrible, HORRIBLE drawer and I my handwriting looks like I'm in Kindergarden, so I don't think I'm too fit for it.

LOL. you're not alone mate, that makes two of us.

 

[7saen]

Thank you very much for that info! Looks like Sinkwitz has been moving up and fast within Daimler, from Smart, to Designing the Benz E-Class, to now being the Chief of Interior Design.

Well, "fast" is relative here. not sure about the timeline here, but the W212 was presented to the public in 2002, meaning that the design was frozen in 1999.

Oh, one more question for anyone who might know or have the information on hand: Who Designed the original, and also new CLS's? I assume Hubert Lee did the newest one?

Yes Hubert Lee designed the new one. The first CLS was design by Michael Fink, who, in 2003, registered to the old Germancarfans forums and contributed for a while - mostly in the CLS thread of course.
Old GCF members might still remember the days
Michael Fink doesn't work for Daimler anymore. He headed the hyundai design in Germany for a short period then moved to Austria to work at Design Storz, a design supplier with partners like Audi, VW and BMW.
Not sure about his current position.

 

[K-A]

Wow, thank you!

1999!??! Holy crap, I had no idea these things are frozen a decade before they go into Production. Incredible.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Wow, thank you!

1999!??! Holy crap, I had no idea these things are frozen a decade before they go into Production. Incredible.

I think Hussein was talking about the w211. No way was the W212 frozen in 1999.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

LOL. you're not alone mate, that makes two of us.

LOL me three!

 

[K-A]

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. I wonder if that same guy Hussein was referring to was the Designer for the 211 or 212 now?

Seems super crazy to freeze a design a decade before production!

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. I wonder if that same guy Hussein was referring to was the Designer for the 211 or 212 now?

Seems super crazy to freeze a design a decade before production!

Yeah hopefully Hussein can clarify if he did in fact identify the designer of the w212.

It'd be impossible to freeze a design that far back. Technology and design progress far too quickly. I believe they are frozen 3-4 years prior to manufacture.

 

[K-A]

Yeah, it would also make you wonder as to how all the manufacturers come up with the same design trends during the same design periods.... Like how Hyundai can all of a sudden release a model 2 years after a Benz or Bimmer, utilizing their very design traits, etc.

Only way that would even be possible is if every car company was privy to the exact designs from the others, that far back in advance as well, which just seems crazy.

 

[7saen]

Sorry guys.. it was a typo.
Of course I was talking about the W211.
the W212 was designed by Thomas Stopka. the design was frozen in 2006.

The design and development process in the automotive industry is a very slow one compared to other industries. for designers, when a car hits the streets it's already 3 years old it's not that exiting anymore. kind of a shame actually
Same goes for the technical part. All the "new" technologies premiered in "new" cars are already 3 to 5 years old!

 

[NarutoRamen]

The design and development process in the automotive industry is a very slow one compared to other industries. for designers, when a car hits the streets it's already 3 years old it's not that exiting anymore. kind of a shame actually
Same goes for the technical part. All the "new" technologies premiered in "new" cars are already 3 to 5 years old!

Yeah, that's a given. I guess that's why it's called the burden of knowledge. You know more than us, but it might make you less excited than us as well.

 

[K-A]

Cool, thanks.

I'll bet that takes a lot of the glory out of it. To be honest, being such a Car nerd and coming to these Forums can hurt the Enthusiast experience as well, if you don't watch out. To most people, any M-B 2008+ is "The Future", then you come here and you see people talking about stuff coming out in 2015 that's making you feel like cars that are coming out in 2012 are already "dated".

I try and keep a humbled and purist perception when it comes to cars, so I can enjoy whatever's out, regardless of how new it is.

 

[GreyCoupe]

What the hell? He didn't say that. 2002-1999=3 years.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Sorry guys.. it was a typo.
Of course I was talking about the W211.
the W212 was designed by Thomas Stopka. the design was frozen in 2006.

The design and development process in the automotive industry is a very slow one compared to other industries. for designers, when a car hits the streets it's already 3 years old it's not that exiting anymore. kind of a shame actually
Same goes for the technical part. All the "new" technologies premiered in "new" cars are already 3 to 5 years old!

What else has Thomas worked on Hussein?

Is Eni right about the exterior designer of the w222? You've probably seen this car, or early workings of it? Are we going to be happy? lol

 

[K-A]

I'm curious to know as to what else Thomas has done as well. I Googled him and found him to be in some pictures with Lee for CLS promos.

Also, if the original CLS designer had went to Hyundai, would he be at least partially responsible for the new Sonata? Obviously Hyundai went straight to the source for that M-B rip-off.

Edit: That may have not been Stopka in those pictures after-all, they may be Habib actually.

 

[7saen]

What else has Thomas worked on Hussein?

Is Eni right about the exterior designer of the w222? You've probably seen this car, or early workings of it? Are we going to be happy? lol

Thomas was also the designer of the interior of the current E-class. So this is one of the very rare cars that were designed inside and out by the same designer
He also designed the E-Coupe, the Concept Fascination and the smart forspeed shown few weeks ago in Geneva.

As for the W222. Again, i'm not allowed to spread out any kind of infos without getting my broke ass sued - so I'm not gonna

Also, if the original CLS designer had went to Hyundai, would he be at least partially responsible for the new Sonata? Obviously Hyundai went straight to the source for that M-B rip-off.

I'm not sure what kind of influence he had there. as I said before he was there for a very short period.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Thomas was also the designer of the interior of the current E-class. So this is one of the very rare cars that were designed inside and out by the same designer
He also designed the E-Coupe, the Concept Fascination and the smart forspeed shown few weeks ago in Geneva.

As for the W222. Again, i'm not allowed to spread out any kind of infos without getting my broke ass sued - so I'm not gonna


I'm not sure what kind of influence he had there. as I said before he was there for a very short period.

Wow Thomas got lucky! E-class and E-coupe!

About the S...comone just one word Hussein...Hot or Not. Take your pick lol