The iconic three-pointed star has always been a symbol of prestige, but Stuttgart seems to have decided that too much is not enough. The updated Mercedes-Benz GLE, its Coupe version and the majestic Mercedes-Benz GLS, which we have already shown you, have now found themselves under the crossfire of criticism even before they officially set foot in the showrooms. Instead of the expected revolution, the public received a design that many describe as overloaded and devoid of its previous elegance.
The main problem is the literal “pouring” of the body with the brand logo. If until recently the star proudly occupied the center of the grille, now it is everywhere – integrated into the graphics of the headlights, on the edges of the hood and even in the taillights. In the Mercedes-Benz GLE, observant aesthetes counted five similar elements, and in the flagship Mercedes-Benz GLS, the number swells to seven. The result? A visual obsession that, according to critics, crosses the line of good taste in an attempt to forcefully impose identity.
This restyling is shrouded in a special nostalgia, as it bears the handwriting of Gordon Wagener - the chief designer, who left the company after almost three decades of faithful service. For many, this is an ambiguous end to an era, leaving the feeling of a slight creative stagnation. Despite the loud promises of 3,000 changed components, the visual resemblance to its predecessors is so great that fans feel slightly misled by the long wait.
However, the truth behind this conservative approach is purely pragmatic. Mercedes-Benz is deliberately tightening the purse strings for models with internal combustion engines. Since the Mercedes-Benz GLE and Mercedes-Benz GLS have been on the market for eight and seven years respectively, the company has chosen the strategy of “deep restyling“ instead of developing completely new platforms. The billions saved are being poured into the brand's electric future, which is currently an absolute priority for the Germans.
Against a 10 percent drop in global sales last year, Mercedes-Benz needs a strong trump card to regain its leadership positions. However, whether this “star inflation“ will attract new buyers or push them away to the more restrained offers of the competition remains to be seen. One thing is certain - in Stuttgart they are already playing “vabank“ with electrification, leaving their classic legends to rely on old glory and... many, many stars.