Photo: Andrei Tutu
Hot on the heels of the debut of the F 015 Concept at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Mercedes’ head of design, Gorden Wagener claims that future cars won’t change in design too drastically, despite using new technology.
It has been a trend lately to create cars that look ‘unconventional’ just to tell everyone around them that the powertrain beneath the bonnet is not what you’d expect. Probably the best example in this regard is BMW’s i3 and i8 models but even they stayed well within the accepted limits that define how a car should look like.
Mercedes unveiled a new concept in the shape of the F 015, one that takes driving to a whole new level but even so, despite its curious design, the man behind it claims that future cars won’t be so different after all.
“Classic proportions will remain classic,” he said for Autocar. “For Mercedes, I think the rear-wheel drive look of a long bonnet, a cabin hunched over the rear wheels and so on defines us. It is key to our brand and something I think that we would want to keep.”
New technologies allow car makes to drop having to use some conventional designs like massive air intakes on the front bumpers because electric motors for example, don't need air to function, like internal combustion engines.
Even so, we agree completely with Wagener. However, we also like what we’ve seen in the F 015 concept and wouldn’t mind seeing some of these ideas put in production. However, the steering wheel has to remain a part of the car, no matter how autonomous it is. The designer feels the same way, saying that he cannot imagine a car without one.
“Once the steering wheel is gone you might as well take the train. Autonomous functions should only be there for the times they can make life better. At other times, Mercedes drivers will want to drive.”
This is basically the same approach BMW has at the moment. Just last week we were telling you that officials are looking to offer their customers more time, the ultimate luxury. Therefore, trying to justify the ever more automated systems on board of their cars the current claim is that they’re there to offer you more time. When you actually want to drive and have fun, you can do so without breaking a sweat or having to buy another car.
Mercedes unveiled a new concept in the shape of the F 015, one that takes driving to a whole new level but even so, despite its curious design, the man behind it claims that future cars won’t be so different after all.
“Classic proportions will remain classic,” he said for Autocar. “For Mercedes, I think the rear-wheel drive look of a long bonnet, a cabin hunched over the rear wheels and so on defines us. It is key to our brand and something I think that we would want to keep.”
New technologies allow car makes to drop having to use some conventional designs like massive air intakes on the front bumpers because electric motors for example, don't need air to function, like internal combustion engines.
Even so, we agree completely with Wagener. However, we also like what we’ve seen in the F 015 concept and wouldn’t mind seeing some of these ideas put in production. However, the steering wheel has to remain a part of the car, no matter how autonomous it is. The designer feels the same way, saying that he cannot imagine a car without one.
“Once the steering wheel is gone you might as well take the train. Autonomous functions should only be there for the times they can make life better. At other times, Mercedes drivers will want to drive.”
This is basically the same approach BMW has at the moment. Just last week we were telling you that officials are looking to offer their customers more time, the ultimate luxury. Therefore, trying to justify the ever more automated systems on board of their cars the current claim is that they’re there to offer you more time. When you actually want to drive and have fun, you can do so without breaking a sweat or having to buy another car.
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