Mercedes-Benz scores double wins at German Design Council awards

Mercedes-Benz took home two design trophies from the 2014 German Design Council awards, winning Special Mentions for the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-class and the Ener-G-Force concept vehicle.

The German Design Council traces its history back decades, and every year dozens of experts evaluate more than a thousand entries, with just a fraction of them being automotive designs. This year 30 well-known design experts judged approximately 1900 submissions, assessing a variety of design elements in picking their top choices, and this year a duo of Mercedes-Benz vehicles won the praise of design gurus.

Mercedes-Benz
The 2014 S-class is claimed to embody "sensual clarity."

According to Mercedes-Benz, the design of the 2014 S-class tries to convey the concept of "sensual clarity," building a bridge between contemporary design idiom and the Mercedes-Benz cars of the 1930s, combining stylish sportiness, sensuous lines, and timeless clarity. In June of this year, the 2014 S-class already received the "Best of the Best" award for its exterior and interior design at the 2013 Automotive Brand Contest. Now that we think about it, "best of the best" is a phrase that we hear often when talking about the Mercedes-Benz S-class, and that praise turns out to be true in practically every aspect of the car. We liked the appearance and proportions of W222 S-class ourselves, noting the resemblance of its front fascia to the well-liked W140 S-class sedan of the 1990s, though other commentators opined that the design of its trunk was too derivative of the departed Maybach cars. But those are just some design elements examined piecemeal as first impressions, and the overall exterior design of the car seemed to draw praise from just about everyone.

Mercedes-Benz
The Ener-G-Force concept was first shown at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Ener-G-Force concept vehicle also received a Special Mention from the German Design Council, and we have seen this concept in person nearly a year ago, at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show.This concept attempted to preview what the G-class might look like in the distant future, and we have to admit that we found its design to be both functional and effective, without seeming outlandish or impractical. We even got a chance to talk to the designer of the Ener-G-Force concept, Huey Lee, at the auto show during the premiere of the concept. With the concept aimed at the year 2025, its drivetrain could very well be fuel cell electric, but with the pace of drivetrain technology being what it is, we wouldn't want to make any predictions for 2025.

By Jay Ramey