What If Mercedes-Benz Created the Iconic BMW 5 Series? Fan-Made Design Battle Brews Online

A collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and BMW?
What if Mercedes-Benz made a BMW 5 Series?

Mercedes-Benz and BMW compete for the top U.S. imported vehicle market. Each brand brings a long-standing rivalry but projects distinct images to consumers. Mercedes-Benz focuses on luxury and exclusivity, using its iconic three-pointed star logo to attract American buyers.

On the other hand, BMW is incredibly stimulating the sensibilities of young people by applying a sporty design centered on the kidney grille, including sleek headlamps and air intakes. What kind of design will emerge when two brands competing with their styles join?

Imaginative rendering created by Open AI
E-class grill shape applied

Although the possibility of it happening is slim, a rendering design created by imagining this has become a hot topic. Various versions of the 5 Series made by Mercedes-Benz were revealed with an imaginative rendering created by an online community user through the conversational AI Co-Pilot. Looking at the first revealed imaginative rendering; it appears that the shape of the grill was referenced from the Mercedes-Benz model.

The spacious chrome grill forms a trapezoidal shape, and the vertical grille pattern resembles the 5 Series. L-shaped daytime running lights are applied inside the square headlamp box. It appears to have referenced the appearance of the late 7th generation 5 Series, and the headlamp box has sharpened ends, maintaining some of the design of the new 5 Series.

Show a sense of luxury by changing the wheel
Design that emphasizes the kidney grille

A combination of the designs of the two models can also be seen in the bumper. The enlarged trapezoidal air intake located on the side of the bumper resembles the 5 Series, and the thin air intake connecting the center resembles the shape of the E-Class bumper. Mercedes-Benz thin spoke wheels are applied to the side to create a luxurious image.

The next version is a rendering that emphasizes BMW’s kidney grille shape. However, the grille was expanded in size to emphasize its stately appearance. The overall shape was based on the old 5 Series. A chrome line continues along the grille’s edge, maintaining its identity. Two horizontal garnishes were added to the air intake at the bottom of the bumper to emphasize the sharp lines.

Isn’t it made in China?

There is also a rendering that further highlights the image of the E-Class. This time, the grille pattern was applied horizontally, and the spacing between the patterns was kept close. The overall shape of the headlamp box is not much different from the previous one, but it has a longer horizontal length than before. Accordingly, the internal daytime running lights were increased to three lines, but a curved line was applied instead of the existing angular shape of the letter ㄴ.