EnI

It's not a secret BMW have some special design trademarks:

- twin kidney grille
- Hofmeister kink in C-pillar
- quad round headlights
- L-shaped rear lights
- typical BMW aerodynamic proportions (long wheelbase & bonnet, short front overhang)
- and of course BMW roundel logo

What about other German brands like Audi, MB, VW, Porshe, Maybach, perhaps Opel? Except their logos. What else?

OK, Audi lately features trapezoid single grille. What else?

MB: typical MB grille. What else?

VW: ????

Porsche: round / oval-ish headlights, iconic 911-ish shape applied to all models. What else?

Opel: ????

Maybach: ????



What do you think?

Imhotep Evil

Well I knew about BMW and Porsche, but the reast aren't realy as clearly defigned.

SDNR

I know this is not exactly the topic .....but I wonder, Eni, if I may expand upon the theme of this thread.

Mercedes have unfortunately lost their way a bit since Peter Pfeiffer has taken over from Bruno Sacco. Today's Mercedes designs are reactionary rather than leading. A collage of current general automotive design trends, implemented without much apparent ideology, [usually] watered-down to give them [hopefully] greater longevity in the market -- although it is true that some of these trends originated, or were based on Mercedes own initiatives, under Sacco.

Mercedes has lost its position as the undisputed design leader. Sacco had created a series of powerful styling attributes that confidently expressed the brand's values and ambitions. The current Mercedes cars are a 'cut and paste' assemblage of styling cues -- some based on inherent Mercedes archetypes, others 'borrowed' from competitors. In my opinion, it's a bit of a mess at Mercedes ...even if the cars are still quite attractive.

I must admit, the new A5 took me by surprise a little ...I am curious to see how far Audi will go with this new 'expressiveness' in their designs. The A5 is still a world away from the impassioned aesthetics of Maserati or even BMW but it is an interesting development from a manufacturer with such a cool and serious image.

BMW design is particularly impressive, they have radically changed the appearance of their cars without losing any of the BMW 'feel' -- they have achieved what Mercedes has not. Many have criticized Chris Bangle but his risky styling has paid off. It has been aided by clever marketing, insuring the public is 'educated' to understand the intentions behind the designs and their ideological parallels in Modern art, architecture, and design. BMW have reinforced their brand by associating it with high-culture, cutting-edge ideas, and intellectual excellence.

Maserati

Rob, I didn't get this part, could you explain more ?

SDNR

Sure,

I mean I was not expecting the A5 to be as expressive as it is.

Usually, I think of Audi as a very academically designed car -- pragmatic and serious, designed in accordance with Audis cleanly technological aesthetic.

The A5 is sleek and more directly emotive ...its exterior is more sensuous than past Audis -- it is more 'human' ..in my opinion.

Imhotep Evil

Audi have agreed that they will go (follow BMW) twards expresivity/emotive/humanity.

Not suprising since Audi shifted and mixed design in the last 25-30 years. Aero
, Bauhaus and now Human one after the other, and sometimes even simultaniously (in the same line up). This design shift shock is almost an Audi trademark.

As for BMW and, MB those are my toughts/feelings exactly.

cawimmer430

The Mercedes' starting with the W116 in 1972 up to the W210 E-Class (1996-2002) had a lot in common such as ribbed rear lights and orange needles on black instruments with white lettering / numbering.

Nowadays, so much has changed...

warot

Agreed. Comparing a A class and R class, there's just not much in common. In my opinion, Audi and BMW do a better job with the looks. Whether you compare the 1 Series to the X5, or the TT and Q7, you can tell that they are from the same company.

I think this is going to be a new era for the big 3. They used to have that German seriousness (like Rob said), but now they are some of the most modern cars you can find.

hu§eindesign

BMW:
- Kidney grill
- Hofmeiter Kink
- quad headlights
- Short front overhang
I don't see the L-shaped rear lghts as a Design trademark anymore becaus they're coming and going all the time. 3er (sedan and touring), 5er (sedan and touring), 6er, 1er don't have have this element and these are some of the most important models in the line-up.

MB:
- The traditional grill for sedans
- the grill with the big star for all other vehicle sorts.
- the tree pointed star on the bonnit
- the ribbed rear lights
- the triangular rear lights (although MB ar leaving this driection gradually)
- the pointy front

Audi:
- The single frame
- The C-pillar window
- Over-designed headlights construction

Porsche:
- the whole car. Porsche hasn't been redesigned but facelifted over the years!

Opel:
- pointy front (new element)

Maybach:
- Grill with vertcal blades
- Bi-color paint
- see MB!

VW:
- nothing!

SDNR

Ha, Hussein ....do you not feel there is a VW look?

It is difficult to put a finger on it (difficult to decipher or analyze) ...but I do believe there is a VW look. The VW Golf, for example, has many imitators but it does have its own very strong identity ...don't you think?