You can count me as one of the biggest fans of the former head of Mercedes-Benz’s styling department from 1975 through 1999, Bruno Sacco, but as much as I tip my hat to the 80-year-old designer, I just can’t see how the 190E sedan of the 1980s influenced the new Lamborghini Huracan in any way – can you?
The story was posted on PistonHeads with the catchy subtitle “The key influence on the Lamborghini Huracan’s design language? That’ll be the Mercedes 190…” citing one of the team’s designers of the car, Michele Tinazzo.
Frankly, I don’t remember hearing any designer working at a major or historic car company saying /admitting in public that he or she was “influenced” by a vehicle of another brand (especially a mainstream model), and if I read the PistonHeads article correctly, that doesn’t seem to be the case, and I quote:
“Do you think the Huracan is revolution or evolution?” Tinazzo asks. Looking at the LP400-style flat surfaces and angles, the Miura references in the slatted rear deck and Diablo inspired diffuser/bumper at the rear I venture evolutionary. He nods and I ask him who his biggest influences are.”
“‘Bruno Sacco,’ he says without hesitation, clearly proud of his countryman’s achievement of dragging Mercedes design out of chintzy chrome-bedecked conservatism and into the modern era. In interview I’ve heard Sacco describe the 190 as his proudest achievement, Tinazzo saying the W124 that followed is one of his favourites. I never thought I’d be considering 80s Mercs as key influences for a 21st century Lamborghini but design moves in curious directions sometimes.”
Go ahead and correct me if I’m wrong in the comments area, but I didn’t read any mention of the 190E or any other car inspiring/influencing the styling of the Huracan. What I understand is that, Tinazzo was simply referring to the designers and cars that influenced him in general (as in career), and not the Huracan specifically.
By John Halas
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