He meant the exhaust tips

....well that wasn't my point.

I was simply showing that there is a precedent for this type of thing -- and we shouldn't overlook that Chrysler (being such a proponent of the American Retro phenomenon) had an obvious [even if relatively subtle] influence on Mercedes styling.

The Ocean Drive Concept is Retro -- with a vaguely 1940s/50s Amercian feel to it.



Please note, I am not necessarily drawing direct styling comparisons -- it is more a about perceptions of aesthetics and metaphysics.

^ one question, how does that car steer ?

Oh Rob. Ford had a similar car too, as did Mercedes themselves.

M

What Rob said isn't entirely bananas. There is American design influence in some of Mercedes designs. Throughout the 1920-1970 Mercedes and Cadillac have had their fair share of similar traits. I mean, even I as a hardcore MB fan thought "Wow that looks American" when I first saw images of the OCD. Obviously one wouldn't obnoxiously say that Mercedes designs are inspired by Cadillac or Chrysler. It's just that the companies share design elements that have been passed on through generations.

he he ....thanks Hassan, it is nice to know that someone still has some faith in my sanity.



Just for arguments sake, check this out:

1995 Chrysler Eagle Jazz Concept


2007 Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept

You're right, any and everything Mercedes does is paterned after Chrysler, wether it was 100+ years or 1 month ago. Mercedes couldn't have possibly come up with anything original.

Now we've gone from ridiculous production car claims to digging up 13 year old concepts. This proves that nothing Mercedes has done has been original and that they've take all of their influence from either Chrysler or Cadillac.

M

I think you are taking me too literally Merc, I was not making direct styling comparisons ...but rather, showing the Chrysler influence in the way car styling is approached.

The American influence seems to be more concerned with evoking emotions and memories -- German design is traditionally less romanticized.

That is not at all what I am saying -- it was just thrown in as an interesting note.

I have never said that Mercedes is copying anyone -- I have simply stated (several times) that during its merger with Chrysler, Mercedes was clearly influenced by some of Chrysler's approach to vehicle design -- and this naturally resulted in some elements of Chrysler's styling ideas finding their way into Mercedes vehicles (both concept and production models).

That 1995 Chrysler Eagle Jazz Concept is amusingly similar to the F700. How the hell did you find it? You can compare Cadillac, Mercedes and Chrysler to English, Swedish and German language. They somewhat originate from the same tree. Neither if a copy or imitation of the others although they branch into similar channels.

Like Rob said, German design is romanticized. VW, Porsche and Audi represent what you would call traditional German design. Lacks expressiveness of emotions as opposed to Mercedes intentionally styled cars like the w221 tail lights. You know curvy shapes and decorative chrome details. Nothing negative about it though.