Mercedes-Benz Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener will step down after nearly 30 years with the company, effective January 31, 2026. Wagener is the person behind Mercedes' current "Sensual Purity" design language, which prioritizes rounded contours and flowing lines, an ethos clearly seen in the 2007–2013 S-Class and bold concept cars like the Vision Iconic and Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6, each of which he designed. The designer also oversaw the design and launch of the EQS sedan that, although polarizing, helped inform other Mercedes designs like the GLC SUV and recently revealed CLA-Class.
A Grand Tenure At Mercedes-Benz
Gorden Wagener started his career in 1995, bouncing around as an exterior designer for the likes of Mazda and General Motors before joining Mercedes-Benz in 1997. Just two years later, he was named head of the exterior/interior styling department and was responsible for the GL-, ML-, and R-Class SUVs. Wagener's biggest early success was the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, a vehicle he penned alongside legendary auto engineer Gordon Murray. He also designed the CLS-Class, one of Mercedes' most iconic models of the past quarter-century.
[Wagener's] creativity and his sense for the future of automotive design have sustainably enriched Mercedes-Benz. I would like to thank Gorden for his commitment, his exceptional work and his lasting influence – and wish him all the best for the future.
–Ola Källenius, Mercedes-Benz Board of Management Chairman
In 2008, he was named vice president of design at Daimler AG, allowing him to establish the Sensual Purity visual blueprint. One of the first recipients of the new style was the facelifted 2014 E-Class, an extensively redesigned version of the existing W212 that did away with its predecessor's edgy fender and bodyside surfacing in favor of smoother contours and softer lines. The flagship S-Class W222 followed almost immediately thereafter, again with sleeker styling than its predecessor. Sensual Purity eventually became the watchword for M-B design, showing up in the likes of the SL roadster and even the smoothed-out, all-electric G-Class with EQ Technology.
What's Next For Mercedes Design?
Wagener will depart the company of his own volition on January 21, 2026, according to a statement from the company. Stepping into his role will be Bastian Baudy, who is currently the head of Mercedes-AMG design. Baudy's résumé includes the current E-Class, EQE sedan, and GLC and GLC Coupe, as well as the stunningly elegant AMG Vision Gran Turismo show car from 2013. Whether he'll uphold all of Wagener's design motifs remains to be seen, but it's clear Baudy speaks his predecessor's unique language and can help transition the company into its stylistic future.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
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