A Return to Classic Cars?
In the early 1990s, car interiors weren’t particularly nice. Gray plastic panels were all the rage, punctuated with the odd button or other control.
But the funny thing is that vehicle cabins weren’t always so bland. Back in the 1930s, cars were infused with design. Even the working man’s car, like the 1932 Hupmobile B216, featured a finely crafted wood dashboard with harmoniously aligned dials and other levers to control mechanisms that have since disappeared.
However, style is slowly making a comeback. In fact, it never left in the luxury vehicle market, with Rolls-Royce consistently delivering old-school refinement. More affordable luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz are bringing back a classic appeal in their vehicle interiors, as are Volvo and Genesis.
In the case of Mercedes-Benz, this enhanced style sense is seen in their more recent models, like the GLC SUV and the latest C-Class and E-Class. What makes up this style, exactly?
First, there are the details. For example, if we stick with the more recent Mercedes-Benz interiors, we note the return of metallic levers and buttons for several controls, and the air vents are styled after those from decades ago. And a stylized metal mesh replaces the plastic covers over the speakers.
Overall, the design is both functional and classic, like the cars of days gone by. And chances are that classic interiors will become de rigueur once again!