Mercedes-Benz: Luxury cars with Arial on the gearknob
Maybe someone can appreciate my disgust when I got into a 2006 CLS (attached) the other day, to find Arial on the gearknob. I found the same usage on the E500. Both of these cars are top of the line luxury cars.
I'm not a fan of Arial, but I'm even less tolerant when it is used instead of a typeface that formed part of an original design. I feel so strongly that I sent letters explaining my concern to various Mercedes-Benz/Daimler-Chrysler offices and I haven't had a response yet. Do you think they care?
Look at the comparison, correct Merc typeface left, right is A (as seen in these models.)
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3.Apr.2007 7.15am
I'd suggest leaving the type ID to the experts.
Cheers, Si
3.Apr.2007 7.27am
I know Arial a mile away.
3.Apr.2007 7.28am
Just to make it clear: Left is what it SHOULD be, right is what it is.
3.Apr.2007 7.38am
Not sure what you mean, but the standard Merc typeface is not Arial, and it is Arial on the gearknob.
3.Apr.2007 7.41am
>Just to make it clear: Left is what it SHOULD be, right is what it is.
That explains it. Thanks.
3.Apr.2007 8.11am
You can't help but wonder how this kind of thing could happen...
Working as a desktop publisher, I've seen my share of wrong type usage & in 6 years I've only had one (!) housestyle instruction list sent along with the logo (this was for a big bank in Belgium that even has 2 different logo's; one to use if it ends up getting smaller than 2cm wide (if I remember correctly) & another to use otherwise). The instruction list for correct usage of the logo was over 3 pages, but even having used this logo practically daily, I've only seen it once. Another horrible example is -also from a (big) bank- who sent along an advertisement we had to remake with the wrong type. I was very tempted to correct this, but after adressing my boss, I still had to use the wrong logo. It was a pretty obvious wrong logo as well... In case of a bank that is often run on "independent" terms, I can somewhat understand how this kind of thing could happen, but as for your Mercedes example, I just don't see hòw it could've happened. It's an unforgivable mistake! Get a BMW just in spite ;-)
3.Apr.2007 11.13am
Or a Volvo. Their type is much better :)
3.Apr.2007 2.10pm
Sadly, I don't think the corporation would care enough to take the letter seriously. Besides voicing your disgust, what else did you put in the letter? It probably doesn't matter anyway. Who would care besides fellow typophiles? Face it, we are a hopeless minority.
3.Apr.2007 2.17pm
You could write to Andreas Dahms
via http://designnavigator.daimlerchrysler.com/index.php
4.Apr.2007 11.41am
From the website's typography page:
"Should Corporate S not be available, the typefaces Arial or Times may be used. This particularly applies if the use of Corporate S is not recommended, e.g., in the case of data transfer with external partners."
Combined with:
External partners can order Corporate ASE from the manufacturer URW++ in Hamburg in exchange for a corresponding license fee
Hmmm, this is what more than likely happened I'm afraid. I imagine they subcontract the gearbox manufacturing. The keyword in the last quote is can I suppose... :(
6.Apr.2007 1.24pm
Now that is simply shocking. My initial thoughts were that they subcontracted and didn't notice that the subcontractor messed up. Those terms shouldn't apply for type on the vehicle itself. In fact, I think those terms should not apply for anything. Guess that's the way it is: The end of the world is nigh.
6.Apr.2007 3.36pm
I could see them doing this on the C-class line, but on the E-class? I hope they’re at least getting it right on the S-class.