German Car Zone

Mercedes Design Chief Gorden Wagener


When Gorden Wagener was made head of design of Mercedes-Benz in 2008, he was just 39 years old. His predecessor, Peter Pfieffer, began designing cars at Mercedes the year Wagener was born.

Wagener joined Mercedes-Benz in 1997. He became head of the exterior and interior styling two years later, and worked on the GL-, M- and R-Class models. In 2002, he was given responsibility for the A-, B-, C-, E-, CLK- and CLS-Class ranges, and then went on to head the company's advanced studios, where his team produced the F700 concept, a car so controversially styled even the official Mercedes-Benz press release announcing his appointment wryly describes it as "much-noted."

By any measure, Gorden Wagener's rise at Mercedes-Benz has been meteoric. But the wunderkind mantle rests easily; this is a man untroubled by doubt or uncertain doctrine. His goal is simple: to make Mercedes-Benz number one in terms of design. And he's utterly convinced he's already well on the way to achieving it.

Don't expect a radical shift in Mercedes-Benz's design direction
"I was very successful as a designer. The SLR, the S-class, E-class and E-class Coupe -- that's my handwriting. My role now is to oversee 18 models. You will see more stunning cars carrying my handwriting very soon. The BlueZERO [revealed at the Detroit Show] will be the first."

The new E-class is a 21st century Mercedes
"Every second E-class generation is a big change. We wanted to keep the four-eyed face, but didn't want to keep the round look; we wanted to bring it into the 21st century. The shape of the entire car changed from its predecessor to accommodate this. We think the "Ponton line" [the crease on the rear quarter panel that echoes the rear fender detail from the 1953 W120] is a very significant feature. It shows Mercedes is a rear wheel drive car. The E-class is our heartland car, and we wanted it to be outstanding in its class. Which it is."

Designing a good sedan is difficult
"We always wonder there will be three-box cars [sedans] 20 years from now. The answer is, yes, there will. For a designer, sports cars are always good to do -- I was a rookie when I did the SLR, and I would have done it for free. Coupes are easy. But a three-box sedan is the most challenging, and the smaller the sedan, the more difficult it is. Why? I don't know. But Mercedes-Benz's design philosophy is built on the three-box: the S-class starts any new design philosophy for the rest of the range."

At Mercedes-Benz, 60 is the new 40
"Someone who is 20 is drawing a very different car from someone who is 60. But they have a common link: they both want to drive young and fresh design. Especially the older group, although 60 now is not old. So it's important to have young and fresh design on every product, even though Mercedes-Benz is the most traditional luxury car brand. A German car needs to have nice volumes, and a Mercedes needs to have surfaces that reflect emotion, intellect, and execution. A Mercedes should be premium, in every segment."

I bow down to him for designing the SLR,that car is drop dead stunning

+1

I like this dude..
he has designed some of the greatest designs imo..

CLS is a masterpiece and a lesson to the industry on how to create a new class of vehicle..

Major props for the SLR. That is one if the boldest and most recognisable designs ever. This guy is made out of 100% pure win.