Hot! Mercedes-Benz, What's Next?

[AbsoluteUnit]

You both spectacularly missed the point I was making

What is your point?

By hook, or by crook they are competing. The fact they share R&D across the companies to make manufacturing easier doesn't matter to the consumer.

Heck they were smart with their strategy. They let Tesla wholly own a gigafactory in China, but with the stipulation that all parts and materials needed to be sourced from local suppliers. Which basically gave those suppliers free experience in developing parts, tooling and factories that could then be also be sold to Chinese companies.

 

[Design FIRST]

Simply my personal opinion:

This...

...exemplifies the issues that I have with recent M-B design.

IMHO, the relatively new MMA CLA is already looking dated due to the application of "afterthought elements". In essence, I interpret the CLA as a spit in the face of what genuine "Sensual Purity" should be.

Less is more. Far more.

 

[Merc1]

Great conversation.

M

 

[Merc1]

Simply my personal opinion:

This...

...exemplifies the issues that I have with recent M-B design.

IMHO, the relatively new MMA CLA is already looking dated due to the application of "afterthought elements". In essence, I interpret the CLA as a spit in the face of what genuine "Sensual Purity" should be.

Less is more. Far more.

That’s a little harsh but okay.

M

 

[Design FIRST]

That’s a little harsh but okay.

M

Jogging my memory a bit...these are perhaps the last M-B sedans that have, in terms of design, not merely become "old cars" over the years. They are truly enduring classics:

...and despite it's for the era gargantuan exterior proportions:

And in addition, see how, for example, the W124, fares in direct comparision with the brand new 2026 New Xpeng 7:

In terms of a vault-like, high quality fundamantally minimalistic design signature, one could argue an at least distant kindred spirit.

In retrospect, one can see that Bruno Sacco's team genuinely "got it", ushering M-B design into a bold new era that was modern yet not fashionable, not frivolous. While clearly adhering to a recognizable M-B identity. Landmark masterpieces of automotive exterior design. It's regretfully been far, far too long.

 

[Design FIRST]

In attempting to be fair, Gorden Wagener's team created the occasional very interesting "Vision" concept.

IMHO, I find a lot to like regarding the Vision One Eleven:

Strip away the splitters and vents...and the sheetmetal surfacing is quite fascinating. Imagining it applied, toned down, to a far more "conservative" vehicle such as a sedan, wagon or coupe with a hood, rearwards positioned DLO/cabin and a short rear deck or fastback, is at least "interesting". And the rims are simply mega.
Elements of "Sensual Purity" can be detected here, provided the "attached elements" are deleted.

 

[Merc1]

Jogging my memory a bit...these are perhaps the last M-B sedans that have, in terms of design, not merely become "old cars" over the years. They are truly enduring classics:

...and despite it's for the era gargantuan exterior proportions:

And in addition, see how, for example, the W124, fares in direct comparision with the brand new 2026 New Xpeng 7:

In terms of a vault-like, high quality fundamantally minimalistic design signature, one could argue an at least distant kindred spirit.

In retrospect, one can see that Bruno Sacco's team genuinely "got it", ushering M-B design into a bold new era that was modern yet not fashionable, not frivolous. While clearly adhering to a recognizable M-B identity. Landmark masterpieces of automotive exterior design. It's regretfully been far, far too long.

It's simply unfair to other Mercedes-Benz designers.....The Sacco era will never be touched, duplicated or surpassed IMO. He was sheer genius.


M

 

[Design FIRST]

An exterior design a bit less extremely stringently rigid than that of the New Xpeng P7 sedan, hence perhaps a better basis for an analysis of possible kindred spirit.:

...or is it ?

Perhaps M-B directors should seriously consider making Thomas Ingenlath and Nahum Escobedo an offer. Maximillian Missoni left for BMW AG several months ago. Huge asset for BMW. Missed opportunity for M-B.

 

[Merc1]

MBUSA has some S FL pics up now:

M