Mercedes Knows A Good Thing When They See It: Steals Hyundai's Chief Designer

I don't know about this move. A lot of the Hyundai designs were pretty forgetable.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 1:40:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Why do you bother with the bulls**t?

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 3:20:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Fifth: 2007 Lexus LS460L
Fourth: 2006 Jaguar Super V-8
Third: 2006 BMW 750Li
Second: 2006 Audi A8L Quattro
First: 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/2006_jaguar_super_v_8_vs_2007_m_b_s550_2006_audi_a8l_2007_lexus_ls460l_2006_bmw_750li_comparison_test

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 6:42:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Autoweek talking about the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG:

"The car is probably the best combination of comfort, power and handling of anything made."

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/FREE/70605009

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 6:49:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I thought the new E Class looked suspiciously like a Hyundai from the ass-end. Piaskowski must have been freelancing before MB make him the offer. VERY DUMB MOVE, MERCEDES! What are you thinking?

— grysko (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 11:25:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Whatever. People move around amongst competitors all the time. The Hyundai designer moving to MB does not mean much. Hyundai is not even in the same league as MB, and the MB bosses will certainly not let MB take on any Hyundai design influences (wait a sec...it's actually Hyundai that steals design influences from MB, BMW, and the like). Maybe this move was fate...that Mr. Piaskowski really wanted to design for MB (clearly a better car company), and let his MB design ambitions spill over to the Huyndai lineup.

— BSBB (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 1:15:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Does that means MB like how Hyundai look and feel that Piaskowski can improve on the look of MB?

— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 1:45:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

It amazes me Hyundai employed a man in such a sensitive position without a non-compete clause in his contract. What kind of legal hacks are they hiring over there? Who cares, Hyundai shmundai... Denny Crane. Pop goes the weasel.

— DennyCrane (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 3:39:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

EXACTLY. I will never buy a Merc. that looks like a Korean derivative.

— E36er (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 3:55:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Huyndai stole most of their designs from Mercedes anyway.

— monkeyrun (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 3:58:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

You all think that design is some sort of sacred art form etc.. and that "stealing" a design in the history of every car has never been done.

Truth be told, Hyundai hired a designer from mercedes on one of the Sonatas (the 4 eyes like the Merc) so "stealing" seems a little far fetched.

Yes the Genesis is a 100% original design and Hyundai even came out and said that it wasn't, this is way better than earlier versions of the car, and I am glad they did refine it.

I hope this guy is happy going to Merc. And Hyundai I am sure will bounce from this.

Companies do this all the time.

— 1fstmach (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 4:33:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Car designers design cars according to what the company CEO's want and not what they themselves want.

Mercedes will still look like they have always looked ;-)

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 5:09:32 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

This new forum software sucks. You can't format your posts to make it more readable - especially when quoting something.

— TurboSpyder (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 6:53:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Just means MB cars will now look like Toyota/Honda's.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/9/2009 8:34:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

those air intakes in the bumpers remind me of alienware...and angles...and buzz lightyear x]
I just love the fact that it shows how the designers bothered about the details.

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 1/10/2009 1:47:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The likes of Jaguar poach there stylists from Aston Martin, and then Mercedes go and get them from Hyundai, thats hilarious, how embarassing for Merc!!!

— ubercool (View Profile)

Posted on 1/10/2009 6:15:39 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Wow I thought he was working for Pinnifarina, as the new Ferrari California is almost a spot on copy of the Tiburon

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 1/10/2009 12:07:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

sik as imkorean and 4 hyundai thats awesome!!

— lambo98 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/11/2009 1:42:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

There was a time during the Diamler-Chrysler era where MBs started to look a bit like Chryslers. Most non-Europeans who buy MBs are after badge status anyway; if they weren't they'd buy a Hyundai. Does the design make the car and in the end who really cares?

— Eyecarehawaii (View Profile)

Posted on 1/16/2009 2:08:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1