Aerodynamic designs are key to Volvo and Mercedes

Aged 43 and 40 respectively, Volvo's design director, Steve Mattin, and Mercedes' head of design, Gorden Wagener, represent a younger generation of auto execs. The creative field of design is an ideal place for youthful leaders to reign supreme and both men embody a progressive ethos. The National spoke to Mattin and Wagener at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. They share a vision of environmentally friendly design while maintaining the strengths of their brands. For Mattin, this is safety and, for Wagener, this is luxury. Mattin, an ex-Mercedes designer himself, has headed Volvo's design department since 2005 and is part of the drive away from the boxy designs of the 1970s and '80s. "We need to take the strength of the brand and add character, add emotion," he says. UK-born Mattin says that working in Sweden is great for ecologically sound design. "In Sweden, people are genuinely interested in the environment," he says. "We always use chrome-free leather and recyclable materials wherever possible." Moving away from the old boxy designs has proven to be a great step forward environmentally as well as aesthetically. "We have improved the aerodynamics of the vehicle which makes them more fuel efficient," Mattin says. Wagener says Mercedes-Benz aims to be "a leader in green technology. "The outside of the car is steel, which is recyclable. A lighter car uses less fuel and this is helped by the aluminium skin. On the interiors, we try to use environmentally friendly materials." The 2009 Detroit show launched Mercedes' first fully electric car, the Concept BlueZero, and part of Wagener's remit was to ensure that clean and green does not have to mean unattractive. Mattin and Wagener are both quick to cite nature as a major source of design inspiration. "The west coast of Goteburg, the seasons extremes, landscapes and forms of nature," muses Mattin when asked what inspires him. He says he combines such influences with "a Scandinavian approach in general - pure simplicity outside of the box." "There are so many shapes in nature that are inspiring," says Wagener, echoing Mattin's thoughts. Indeed, he stands by the newly launched E-Class as he speaks, and the angular headlamps, a departure from the round lights of past E-Class models, look as if they are inspired by leaves. "The human face is interesting for design too, you get some nice shapes on faces," he adds. Mattin agrees. "Why do you notice someone walking down the street?" he asks. "It's the proportions." He talks of creating faces for Volvos, likening headlamps to eyes. "There is always a slight angle to eyes, an asymmetry, this adds dynamism from the side to the front." This philosophy is clear on the Volvo S60 concept launched in Detroit. The sharp angles of the headlamps and coupe-like body are far from boxy. Mattin took the concept of thinking outside the box literally when he removed the box that used to surround the Volvo logo on the cars' grilles. This had been a design fixture for more than 30 years. "It was a big step," he says. "But necessary for Volvo's design evolution." Wagener, meanwhile, is enthusiastically working on 2011 Mercedes-Benz models. His predictions for the future are high-tech but still practical. "There will be more and more electronics and virtual reality in cars - but we must remember that you still have to drive the car, you can't be driving and surfing the net." glewis@thenational.ae