Is Henrik Fisker the Most Influential Designer of this Century?

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi) 10/24/2013 at 12:50 • Filed to: Fisker

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Over the past decade, automobile designs have changed drastically. But what caused this change? Was it demand? A change in new car buying demographics? Could it all be the design of one man?

It was probably a mix of all of these things, but there are three words that are growing, and growing, among manufacturers; Aston. Martin. Grill.

Henrik Fisker, whose name is now known for, what I consider to be, one of the most beautiful cars penned in this century; the now defunct Fisker Karma. Henrik started with BMW in the late 80's and worked his way up to his first production vehicle where he was lead on the exterior design; The BMW Z8. A design that could still pass as a brand new model, even at almost 15 years old (and James Bond drove one...).

Fisker then went on to work for Ford Motor Co. under the Aston Martin division, where he helped pen what is often describes as the sexiest sports cars available, the DB9, DBS, and Vanquish, which all continue to use styling ques designed by Fisker.

Manufacturers are now penning out there own versions of grills and front fascias in this same style, which has become wildly popular among new car buyers. This is evident in the massive popularity of the new Ford Fusion, and the just released styling on the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . While there are tweaks to these grills to fit the larger sizes of the vehicles, it is evident to where the inspiration for these grills came from.

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Is Henrik Fisker the most influential designer of this century? Only time will tell. But if design trends continue in this manner, I'd say he has a pretty good shot, even if his electric car does not.

McLarry > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 12:59

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Fisker for road cars, Newey for race cars

McLarry > McLarry 10/24/2013 at 13:00

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Holy crap, a comment! Kinja accepted a comment without saying I was logged out!

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:03

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I would put Ian Callum up first. Fisker and Callum shared in the Aston Martin VH platform, but Callum's Jaguars and recent Aston Martins are better looking that the Fisker Karma, or the Fisker coach-built BMW 6-series he did before that.

I know lots of people love the Fisker Karma, but frankly, I think it is distorted. The wheels and fenders are way too big, and basically make the car look like it is sagging in the middle, with the downward curved window sill line. And I am not feeling the split-center mustache grille treatment he chose as his trademark.

It is decent on the Z8... because it resembles the BMW kidney grille with the twist being the width, and the fog lights inset. But the Latigo/Tramonto and the Karma, and Atlantic... it looks weird.

CAR_IS_MI > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 10/24/2013 at 13:12

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The F type is nice, but the AMs haven't changed a whole lot, feels like minor face lifts. I see a lot of the Aston grill in the Karma, with a dash of BMW, I guess it really comes down to, which of the two designed the grill.

Again, the influence from the grill and front fascia is what is growing, neither Callum or Fisker is designing Hyundais, but they are influencing whomever is.

Doctor Shieldsy > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:19

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I mean... he drew some pretty cars. There are only a handful of superstar designers even car fans can name. Bangle, Callum, Gilles, De'Silva (VW), van Hooydonk (Bangle successor at BMW), J Mays, Guigiaro... Does the current fad/meme of Aston Martin Grilles make him the most influential designer of our time? Who's to say this won't be dead in a decade? Isn't this design also entirely derivative? Grilles are far from the most important aspect of vehicle design. Should the first designer to add LED light strips to a car be held in such high esteem?

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:22

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IMO, Chris Bangle is the most influential designer of this century. Almost the industry as a whole has adopted Flame Surfacing.

CAR_IS_MI > Doctor Shieldsy 10/24/2013 at 13:25

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That is the question at hand. Is he?

I cannot say, I do not have insight into the future, the led thing was a trend, but I feel like the cars new buyers are flocking too (at this time) are the ones sporting Aston like grills and a more European style headlight (AM, BMW, MB like).

Shady Balkan Subject, Drives an Alfa > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:25

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I will troll you now and say Bangle. Because that mofo made a hideous BMW that everyody bought and BMW realised that they can sell bad looking cars and get away with that.

SLR999 > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:31

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Don't blame Callum for AM; Jaguar Land Rover (Callum's employers) and AM have been separate for going on a decade now.

Doctor Shieldsy > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:32

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I just feel like you don't know enough about Fisker. You just admire the cars with his name attached (the attachment of James Bond surely helps too!).

The front end of the Karma (actually the Fisker grille in general from the Tramonto) is based partly on the front view of a fighter jet.

The Aston Martin grille shape has heritage older than Fisker himself.

His influence is undeniable, but I think you're giving the man too much credit.

CAR_IS_MI > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 10/24/2013 at 13:32

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This is a good point. It is very common, but also very understated. While I will agree that this styling definitely draws buyers in, it is more of a subconscious thing. I doubt many people are saying, wow, "I really love the way the contours of the body create convex and concave surfaces."

Doctor Shieldsy > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:37

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Actually, 'flame surfacing' caused a huge, very audible uproar from BMW fans. It's only subconscious now because of how prevalent it is and how quickly it became an industry standard.

Ghost Dog - For the kittens > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:40

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I believe enthusiasts are are saying those exact words, and the common public are saying the same, only worded along the lines of, "I like how swoopy it is" and the like.

CAR_IS_MI > Doctor Shieldsy 10/24/2013 at 13:41

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Well you got me there. Never really thought about the way the grill is on the old AMs. Maybe your more in tune to the design process than I, but Mr. bond has nothing to do with my appreciation for cars. Admittedly, many of the cars which I admire for their lines were penned by, or in collaboration with Fisker, however, mostly everything Fisker has penned, I would option for something else, for reasons of performance.

Since you seem to have an idea in design, who would you consider to be the most influential of this century?

CAR_IS_MI > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 10/24/2013 at 13:48

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As a former car salesperson, I usually would hear things like "I like the front end", or "Its so cute", and other reasons not to buy something... but who knows anymore.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 13:52

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Wait, which century?

CAR_IS_MI > Doctor Shieldsy 10/24/2013 at 14:00

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"BMW fans"

a.k.a. fanatics, enthusiasts, people generally regarded as knowledgeable in the automotive industry. I bet Joe Lawyer trading in his seventh leased 7 Series said "I like the new look"

I know I sound combative, I am not trying to be, we are all enthusiasts here and understand things like flame surfacing and how they effect the overall design and appearance of a car. But we, as enthusiasts, are a small percentage of the population. what we see vs. what Average Joe sees are two different things. For example, my mother will still swear that my 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT and my 2005 Mustang looked like the same car. They are, exactly, nothing, alike (sans the fact that they have 2 doors).

You or I could sit there and name off 1000 different things between the two, but in the eyes of my mother, a semi-normal person, the only difference was that one was grey and one was blue. (My mother is an extreme case who sometimes cant differentiate between animate and inanimate objects, but you see the point I'm making...)

RickyD > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 15:28

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Can we just at least agree that if he had made the 6 series instead of Bangle it would have looked like that and everyone would be happy, the end.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > CAR_IS_MI 10/24/2013 at 15:44

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when you have the most iconic, beautiful, timeless front engined GT cars in the world...

You don't change that until you are damn sure you can better it.

Ferrari changed for the sake of change, and introduced more art-school-esque styling for the sake of styling... and I haven't liked a new ferrari more than it's predecessor since the 575M and 430.

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > CAR_IS_MI 11/01/2013 at 22:04

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Don't you think its a little bit early to say that?

JH10 > CAR_IS_MI 11/02/2013 at 05:14

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"Manufacturers are now penning out there own versions of grills and front fascias in this same style, which has become wildly popular among new car buyers."

There, their, they're dude, just saying.

kArno > Ghost Dog - For the kittens 11/02/2013 at 06:44

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and the Bangle's butt are still in use today!

Mike Reynolds > CAR_IS_MI 11/02/2013 at 07:29

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The large grill started with Audi years ago.

3304HL > CAR_IS_MI 11/02/2013 at 12:41

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he probably thinks he is...