• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Forum
  • Design Studio
  • Upholstery Jobs
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsors

The Hog Ring

Auto Upholstery Community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

How Automakers Design Interiors

July 27, 2011 By Nadeem Muaddi

Auto trimmers know what goes into restoring and custom fabricating a car’s interior. But did you ever wonder what an automaker goes through to design it in the first place? Toronto’s Metro published an interesting piece today about Mercedes-Benz’s development process for the 2012 M-Class SUV’s interior cabin. As you’ll read, the level of R&D that goes into designing one of these things is “huge”.

According to author Jil Mcintosh, Benz utilizes a wide range of mockup techniques – including sketches, computer simulations, clay models and experimental builds. The process requires a delicate balance of form and function. One car’s interior can take years of development to get right.

“It takes a long time,” says Marina Sacco, an interior trim designer specializing in colour and materials.

“We started a few years ago and have continued to improve it.”

The design follows a basic theme that Mercedes-Benz reserves for its SUVs: the dash must have strong horizontal lines to give the feeling of spaciousness, while a dome over the centre stack controls hints at the engine’s power. The materials, meanwhile, convey a “welcome home” feeling, with soft-touch surfaces and wood highlights.

It isn’t enough to simply use home-style materials, though.

“The colours and materials have to work in all temperatures, whether very hot or very cold,” Sacco says.

“The leather must function, the plastic must function, and it can’t discolour. Everything has to stay as it is on the first day.”

To that end, everything that goes into the interior is thoroughly tested. Each material is placed under simulated sunshine, and in cold and heat extremes to ensure that it doesn’t peel, become brittle or fade. [more]

Clearly, the field of auto trim and design is one part art and equal part science.

— — —

The Hog Ring is the #1 online community for auto upholstery professionals and enthusiasts. Here you can browse pictures, read news and connect with others who share your passion for auto upholstery. You can even check us out on Facebook and Twitter!

Filed Under: Archive, Concepts & Designs, Interesting Read Tagged With: 2012 Mercedes-Benz M Class, Auto Trim, Auto Upholstery, Car Interior

Primary Sidebar

anal porno bangbros rus porno yaşlı porno konulu porno olgun porno porno izle sarışın porno bakire sex 69 porno

THR Sponsors

NC Sewing Machines
Miami Corporation - Right Rail Ad 3
  • Leather Craft
  • Hyde Leather
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Keyston Bros
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Albright's Supply

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Gottfried Upholstery - Dragon Scale Pleats

Gottfried’s 3D Dragon Scale Pleats

Since Vilner introduced dragon scale pleats … [more] about Gottfried’s 3D Dragon Scale Pleats

Why Are Detroit Books So Hard to Find?

One of the questions that we often hear auto … [more] about Why Are Detroit Books So Hard to Find?

The Hog Ring - Sewn Tight Custom Interiors - Successful Shops are Clean and Organized

Sewn Tight Custom Interiors’ Secret to an Organized Shop

Every auto upholstery shop can benefit from … [more] about Sewn Tight Custom Interiors’ Secret to an Organized Shop

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Customs by Vos

Shop Profile: Customs By Vos

At just 32 years old, Dave Vos has already … [more] about Shop Profile: Customs By Vos

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Exact Art Fabrications - Starlight Headliner

How to Fabricate a Starlight Headliner

Starlight headliners that create the illusion … [more] about How to Fabricate a Starlight Headliner

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Rat Rot Interior Lead

10 Best (Worst) Rat Rod Interiors

In a previous article, we featured … [more] about 10 Best (Worst) Rat Rod Interiors

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • This Family-Run Manufacturer is Raising the Bar for Convertible Tops
  • Queens of the Stone Age to Rock SEMA Fest 2025 in Vegas
  • PETA Claims Renault Is Going Fully Leather-Free — Is It True?
  • Trimmer Richard Buczynski Dies at 87
  • Ontario Car Scene Unites to Support Beloved Upholsterer in Critical Condition

Recent Comments

  • Edward Munday on Hidden Mouse Nest? How to Charge for the Extra Dirty Work
  • Jack on Keyston Bros. Acquires DLT Corporation
  • Brodie Smith on Aston Martin Just Introduced a New Convertible DB12
  • THE CAPTAIN on 6 Tips for Turning Callers into Customers
  • Dmei on Star Wars Seat Covers are ‘So Wizard’

Advertise With Us!

We're always looking for companies to collaborate with. Watch this short video about the benefits of sponsorship and then email us to say hi.

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in