• 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
  • Hyde Leather
  • OEM+ Banner Ad - The Hog Ring
  • Keyston Bros
  • Douglass Interior Products
  • Albright's Supply
  • Leather Craft

THR Favorites

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Red Neck Seat Cover Repair

Redneck Auto Upholstery Repair

Check out these ridiculous videos by YouTuber … [more] about Redneck Auto Upholstery Repair

10 Questions for Trimmer Ron Mangus

We at The Hog Ring are excited to share with … [more] about 10 Questions for Trimmer Ron Mangus

The Hog Ring - Smoking Weed at Work is a Chronic Mistake b

Smoking Weed at Work is a Chronic Mistake

Listen up Cheech. We’ve all seen your shop’s … [more] about Smoking Weed at Work is a Chronic Mistake

The Hog Ring - Watch Carlex Design Customize a Nissan GT-R

Watch Carlex Design Trim a Nissan GT-R

Mondays can be a drag — especially those that … [more] about Watch Carlex Design Trim a Nissan GT-R

The Hog Ring - Customs by Vos 1967 Ford Mustang

Customs by Vos Built a Mustang Interior That Will Blow Your Mind

Elite trim shops do more than cut, sew and … [more] about Customs by Vos Built a Mustang Interior That Will Blow Your Mind

Auto Upholstery - The Hog Ring - Ish Jimenez - West Coast Customs

Talking Shop with Trimmer Ish Jimenez 2

In part one of our three-part interview … [more] about Talking Shop with Trimmer Ish Jimenez 2

Categories

Footer

Recent Articles

  • Sonnenland vs. Twillfast vs. Stayfast: Which Convertible Top Fabric Works Best?
  • Auto Upholstery Class! Learn How to Construct Car Seats in Just 5 Days
  • Firefighters Save Cat Trapped in Burning Upholstery Shop
  • Douglass Interior Products Wants to Launch Your Upholstery Career
  • This Lexus Concept Has a Nail Bar, Vanity and Closet Built Inside

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