As one of the youngest design chiefs in the automotive industry, Gorden Wagener is a champion of bold, radical styling. But he also knows the importance of continuity to the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy.

“A Mercedes has to have a certain presence,” he says. “It should look like a luxury car. We have a long history of the brand and we have to respect that history.”

Traditionally, the flagship S-Class Saloon determines any new design philosophy for the rest of the range, yet as Wagener explains: “We create individual characters and families all under one philosophy.”

Perhaps Wagener puts it best when discussing “Rising Car”, a stunning automotive sculpture presented by Mercedes-Benz at the 2010 Detroit Motor Show:
“Mercedes-Benz design is clear, calm and consistent, yet emotional and highly sensuous. Mercedes-Benz is the brand best able to present automobile design as an art form in an authentic way."