Mercedes has announced the passing of Bruno Sacco, considered one of the greatest designers who contributed to creating some of the most iconic and beautiful Mercedes-Benz models. The Italian-German designer passed away last week in Sindelfingen at the age of 90.

Sacco leaves behind an unmatched legacy. Born in northeastern Italy in 1933, he graduated at the age of 17 and, in 1952, enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Turin. A few years later, he joined Ghia, where he gained experience designing futuristic airplanes alongside the elegant cars that would come to define his legacy.

It was those elegant cars that shaped his professional career at Mercedes-Benz, where he joined in 1958 as an assistant designer. He worked on vehicle body development before becoming the head of the body design and engineering concepts department, contributing to the creation of iconic models like the W100 600 series and the W113 SL.

Among Sacco's notable achievements during his time at Mercedes was overseeing safety exhibitions and designing the experimental C111 and C111-II Wankel engine prototypes. Mercedes noted that his involvement contributed to the production of widely-used vehicles like the mid-range 123 series.

In 1975, Sacco took on the role of Chief Engineer and Head of Design, with his first fully designed car being the beautiful W123 series, unveiled in 1977, which later became known as the E-Class.

In 1979, Sacco introduced the stunning W126 series, regarded as one of the finest executive sedans ever designed, along with its coupe variant. Sacco considered this design his greatest achievement, stating, "The 126 series in all its forms is the best thing I have done for Mercedes-Benz."

Mercedes added that Sacco was so proud of this design that, in retirement, he kept an elegant dark blue 560 SEC in his garage.

One of Sacco's key philosophies was ensuring that his designs would not become outdated with the arrival of new generations, emphasizing that "every Mercedes-Benz should be recognizable as a representative of this brand worldwide."

Later in his career, Sacco introduced the W201, known as the 190 model, aimed at a younger audience and later recognized as the C-Class. In the 1990s, he oversaw the design of the A-Class, M-Class, CLK, SLK, and even the V-Class. The last car he worked on before retiring was the S220 and CL models.

Gorden Wagener, the current head of design at Mercedes, commented, "Bruno Sacco left a lasting mark on the company with his iconic designs and his passion for aesthetics. We have lost an extraordinary personality and an impressive aesthete. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends."

Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, added, "Mercedes-Benz will always be grateful to this exceptional designer and humble individual. Bruno Sacco shaped numerous Mercedes-Benz icons, many of which are still seen on the roads today or admired as classic cars bearing the Mercedes logo."

Indeed, Sacco's design philosophy throughout his career was simple: "A Mercedes-Benz must always look like a Mercedes-Benz."