Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[TATE]

Exactly

Stale Mercedes designs are underselling revolutionary cars
The new GLC is just as radical under the skin as the BMW iX3 and Audi Concept C, but its styling bores

Whatever you think of the new styling directions at BMW and Audi, they don’t half shine a light on the rut that Mercedes finds itself in.

The new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC is just as shiny and new underneath as the BMW iX3, yet in giving the model the same look as pretty much every other Mercedes launched over the past decade or more, a lot of that fresh approach is lost.

The innovation in the car underneath fails to cut through on the surface, no matter how many LEDs are in the new GLC’s grille.

Audi had been in a similar position to Mercedes until recently: styling stuck a constant evolution that after a while becomes samey and eventually even old in some of the surfacing and touches. You could guess what a new car would look like before the covers had even come off.

The recruitment of Massimo Frascella from JLR emphatically addressed that at Audi, and his vision for a new four-ringed look was seen with the Concept C, another Munich motor show star. Whether you like the Concept C or not, it is something different, something more daring, not just another iteration of what has gone before. It’s a starting point for change.

BMW has never been afraid to reinvent its look itself and has been the boldest of the German premium trio with styling revolutions. You won’t find many kind words about its most recent styling departure, but with the new iX3, it has shown that a look that started as quite shocking and polarising can be refined into something more contemporary and palatable. It works.

Since Gorden Wagener took the design helm at Mercedes in 2008, the styling direction has remained largely constant after he got his vision into the generation – and now generations – of cars that have followed.

What felt fresh and modern a generation ago under Wagener feels staid and done now. We’re ready for something else. Is Mercedes ready to take the design leap that its latest technology deserves?

Mercedes' new cars are revolutionary – so why are they stuck with stale designs? | Autocar

The new GLC is just as radical under the skin as the BMW iX3 and Audi Concept C, but its styling bores

www.autocar.co.uk

As I have already said
Personal opinions are personal and nothing else
I personally love this car outside inside
But that’s what I think
I have had BMW in the past and never complained about them. Design engines ….
Today I don’t like the design direccion. Too Japanese for my taste.
But that’s my opinion

 

[Amat46]

Cant wait to see the new head of design at Mercedes in October!

 

[Uygar]

Just remember, the stains are there whether they're on white, brown or black surfaces... you're just sat in them with blissful ignorance when you can't see them

I know, but my OCD doesn’t help when it comes to light interiors. I prefer being ignorant and acting like my black seats are “clean”

 

[leylandi]

Cant wait to see the new head of design at Mercedes in October!

We already saw it at the GLC launch. Gorden wasn't the one describing the car.

 

[Uygar]

Its funny you mention your Volvo had light coloured interior, as I used to own a 2013 Volvo S60 T5 with white coloured seats and door panels and the seats had a few marks and stains on them from use over the years and I had to buy seat covers to try and protect the seats. Those seats were the most comfortable of all the cars I owned including my W213.

Yes. Volvo seats are truly magnificent. It was one of the most comfortable interiors we have experienced. The crown still goes to our old Range Rover though. That boy was something else. If it only was reliable… .

 

[Uygar]

Cant wait to see the new head of design at Mercedes in October!

Is there a new head of design ? Finally .

 

[Uygar]

As I have already said
Personal opinions are personal and nothing else
I personally love this car outside inside
But that’s what I think
I have had BMW in the past and never complained about them. Design engines ….
Today I don’t like the design direccion. Too Japanese for my taste.
But that’s my opinion

They are on point. Hopefully this new head of design will shake things off and show us really fresh Mercedes models. It’s time for a change.
What Audi showed with the TT is truly great for both brand and the costumers.

 

[Swissbob]

Inflation is high across other car manufacturers. Walk into a BMW showroom and the prices of showroom cars today versus 5years ago, for pretty much the same models and engines ahve sky rocketed.

And the quality of the interiors went a step backwards.
At the launch of the 4series, they had physical buttons for the HVAC, after a few years they put the curved screen instead into the car.
As @Mr. Mercedes mentioned in another thread. They had a fantastic interior.

 

[Swissbob]

This VLE is an EV only or both EV and ICE?

M

First EV, later Diesel and Gasoline.
BTW will come to the USA. The gasoline version might even get a I6, because of the USA.

 

[Tuffode]

Inflation is high across other car manufacturers. Walk into a BMW showroom and the prices of showroom cars today versus 5years ago, for pretty much the same models and engines ahve sky rocketed.

At least in the US, BMWs cars have been going up well below the pace of inflation. Almost sort of gives them a pass on the lower quality materials and cost cutting. American manufacturers and companies like Porsche have increased their prices drastically, keeping up with or even passing inflation. In 2019 a base Cayenne was only 4k more than a base X5, now a base Cayenne is almost 20k more.

2019 540xi - $61k
In todays money due to inflation- $78k

2026 540xi - $67k

 

[Uygar]

At least in the US, BMWs cars have been going up well below the pace of inflation. Almost sort of gives them a pass on the lower quality materials and cost cutting. American manufacturers and companies like Porsche have increased their prices drastically, keeping up with or even passing inflation. In 2019 a base Cayenne was only 4k more than a base X5, now a base Cayenne is almost 20k more.

2019 540xi - $61k
In todays money due to inflation- $78k

2026 540xi - $67k

There’s always worse. Here in Turkiye, the cars are getting monthly price increases because of the horrible inflation. One month you think you’re finally able to buy your desired car, and next month you can’t afford it, because it saw a price increase of about %5-10. It’s just horrible in here.
It’s not only inflation, but also extremely high taxes. The government puts %220 tax on cars that have a bigger than 3.0 Liters.
Just to give an example, the M4 Competition costs around €110-120K in other European countries, but it costs around €320k in Turkiye.
Even a base 320i, or a C200 is around €110k. Just horrible.

 

[Uygar]

Mr. Gordon has a lot to say about BMW and Audi’s interiors.
No comment.

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

Mr. Gordon has a lot to say about BMW and Audi’s interiors.
No comment.

I mean a few people have complained about BMWs touch screen being too far away to be useful as a touch screen.
But Wagener needs to stfu.

 

[Tuffode]

It's funny that he thinks being designed in 1995 is a bad thing. Late 90s early 00s are the "in" styles for people my age, so thats a good thing I would say. It's a much better vibe to be in than a 2025 Chinese ballroom.

 

[Uygar]

It's funny that he thinks being designed in 1995 is a bad thing. Late 90s early 00s are the "in" styles for people my age, so thats a good thing I would say. It's a much better vibe to be in than a 2025 Chinese ballroom.

I know right? I can somewhat understand his comments on the iX3 but saying that Audi looks like it’s from 1995 is so funny to me. He thinks screens=future I guess. That Audi interior looks so much better than all the screen bullsh*t.
He needs to retire asap.

 

[Serpens]

I know what he's saying about the Audi, because it is reminiscent of many concepts from that time period. And Honda more to live brought it to life with the S2000 interior. I like the Audi's lack of screens but I do agree to an extent that the interior design is a bit dated, if better than what they're putting out today by a long shot. Just my opinion.

Also my opinion - I think Gorden should see himself out shortly. The next E-class and S-class designs are frozen and are great notes to leave on.

 

[SKY]

I know what he's saying about the Audi, because it is reminiscent of many concepts from that time period. And Honda more to live brought it to life with the S2000 interior. I like the Audi's lack of screens but I do agree to an extent that the interior design is a bit dated, if better than what they're putting out today by a long shot. Just my opinion.

Also my opinion - I think Gorden should see himself out shortly. The next E-class and S-class designs are frozen and are great notes to leave on.

Do you have any hopeful tips about the next E and S?

 

[klier]

I mean a few people have complained about BMWs touch screen being too far away to be useful as a touch screen.

He was talking about the panoramic display being too far away so we will still be needing the big screen to operate it. At least, I believe that was his criticism. The actual touch screen is literal centimeters from the steering wheel.

But Wagener needs to stfu.

At least it was not one of those standard answers you get because of "media training".
I disagree with everything he says and does though.

Anyways, we're having this discussing in two separate threads now. Would be nice if they can be merged.

I like the Audi's lack of screens but I do agree to an extent that the interior design is a bit dated, if better than what they're putting out today by a long shot. Just my opinion.

But there is no lack of screens. It'll have a HUD, has a digital cockpit (with additional narrow screen above it), and a pop up screen where everything you could possibly want can be shown. Remember it has physical buttons for basic functions (and digital fixed dedicated ones for the HVAC); no more screens required.

I think it looks better than anything Benz has come up with for at least a decade, whether concept or production.

 

[lukeswiss]

It's funny that he thinks being designed in 1995 is a bad thing. Late 90s early 00s are the "in" styles for people my age, so thats a good thing I would say. It's a much better vibe to be in than a 2025 Chinese ballroom.

The Audi interior is refreshingly calm. I bet everything feels nice too.

 

[klier]

There’s always worse. Here in Turkiye, the cars are getting monthly price increases because of the horrible inflation.

That's what you get with dictators, for the most part.

Very sad.