Mercedes-Benz Extends its Design Activities

In addition to creating classic automotive designs, the designers at Mercedes-Benz will be styling other products in future.

MULGRAVE, AUSTRALIA – May 6, 2010: The portfolio of the newly established "Mercedes-Benz Style" division will comprise not only transport-related products, but also furniture and lifestyle products and industrial design.

"Our unique design expertise is appreciated throughout the world. We have therefore decided to establish the Mercedes-Benz specific styling outside the automotive field too – and so far we have met with a very positive response from a great number of manufacturers in a variety of sectors", explains Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz.

Currently the Mercedes-Benz designers are working on styling the exclusive interior appointments of a helicopter, and also the spectacular exterior design of a luxury yacht. The helicopter was presented yesterday as the first product at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2010 (EBACE) in Geneva.

"Mercedes-Benz Style" undertakes both commissioned work, for which the rights to the styling service are sold to the product manufacturer, and also the allocation of design licences – in which case a product manufacturer will be granted the right to use the styling, but all rights to the styling remain with Mercedes-Benz.

In both alternatives it is upon the manufacturer’s discretion whether to label its product with the designation “Mercedes-Benz Style”.

"Whether we are dealing with commissioned work or will grant licenses, basically the same principle applies: the product and the manufacturer must both match our premium standards and represent innovation, as well as trend-setting, enduring style", explains Gorden Wagener.

Just as in the automotive field, the designers place great value on brand-typical, passionate styling for “Mercedes-Benz Style”.

Mercedes-Benz Style takes flight: the Eurocopter EC145
Comfortable seats with exclusive materials coupled with sumptuous wood for the floors and ceiling. The interior of the special edition EC145Mercedes-Benz Style helicopter by Eurocopter, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), has all the style and luxury one would expect from a Mercedes-Benz car.

The interior space has been styled by Mercedes-Benz designers. This EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is the first product in the new Mercedes-Benz Style range. Eurocopter and Mercedes-Benz jointly unveiled this luxury model for business and private travel yesterday at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition 2010 in Geneva.

Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener, head of design at Mercedes-Benz: "Eurocopter and Mercedes-Benz are a perfect match. Both are renowned for groundbreaking innovation and trend-setting products. We are delighted to join Eurocopter in unveiling the first product of our new division “Mercedes-Benz Style”.

The interior of the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style, conceived in a styling project led by the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Como, Italy, bears all the hallmarks and passion of Mercedes-Benz style.

The seat upholstery in the cockpit and cabin is available in deluxe materials and a range of colours. A choice of elegant woods can provide luxury underfoot. This overall impression of elegance and style is complemented by a stylish arrangement of wood panels for the ceilings.

Ambient lighting borrowed from the E- and S-Class cars can be adjusted and dimmed in various colours.

Multi-functional and fully configurable
But the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is not just luxurious; it's also spacious and extremely flexible. It is the only helicopter in its class that can seat up to eight passengers.

For the cabin layout, Mercedes-Benz opted for a modular approach inspired by its new R-Class range. All seats are mounted on rails and can be quickly and easily reconfigured or removed to make room for luggage.

There are also three multi-function boxes with features such as a cool box, cup holder, table, 15-inch monitor and DVD player. The interior offers supreme flexibility for both business and private travel: in the partition wall which separates the cockpit from the cabin, extra storage space is provided by drawers.

Mercedes-Benz has made multi-purpose storage a feature of the tail as well. Whether it's golf clubs for a day on the links with business partners or bikes and surfboards for a family holiday, the high-capacity luggage compartment has numerous attachment points on the floor and walls.

The partition between the cabin and the cockpit has fully retractable windows.

Just like the R-Class car that inspired it, the Eurocopter EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style is the most versatile and spacious model in its class.

"Eurocopter’s cooperation with Mercedes-Benz brings together the world’s leading producer of corporate and business helicopters with the automobile manufacturer that sets global standards for luxury and style,” said Olivier Lambert, Eurocopter’s Senior Vice President for Sales and Customer Relations.

“By combining the expertise of both companies, we are uniting creativity, performance and precision engineering to giving the EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style its exceptional character and unmistakable personality."