Mercedes-Benz Iconic Grille’s Progression from Radiator Cover to EV Sensor Hub

Mercedes-Benz evolution of brand-defining radiator grille designs since 2021

The evolution of the three-pointed star Mercedes-Benz has wowed the automotive market with its iconic grilles spanning over 120 years. A vehicle’s grille is the simplest way to determine the brand of a car as it serves the face giving it identity in a sea of automotive brands on the planet.

The first time Wilhelm Maybach's invented the authentic honeycomb radiator grille, it was installed in a Mercedes 35HP (35PS) followed by a transition into a protective shield of Mercedes-Benz 170 where Black Panel grille serves as a shroud for modern technologies such as cameras, radar, and the Lidar scanner.

1900 Mercedes 35HP (35PS)

Interesting fact here, the radiator grille was originally designed to solve the cooling problem of internal combustion engines, but it eventually ushered in the era of vehicle grilles. This was way back in the 1900s when they had their first encounter into vehicle grilles.

Integrated with patented design once and for all solved the problem of cooling the internal combustion engine, allowing the production of vehicles that were not only more powerful but also more reliable.

2022 Mercedes EQA 250 AMG Line - first ever fully EV in the EQ family

As the radiator was prominently displayed on the vehicle, it had an immediate impact on the brand's image which marked a new epoch had arrived. Now that the electric vehicle (EV) era is approaching globally, the German carmaker grilles are here to stay, yet with a different function than the protective radiator cover they once served.

Mercedes-Benz evolution of brand-defining radiator grille designs from 1900 to 2016.

Although without a radiator, Mercedes opts for a Black Panel grille for its EQ range, which serves as a perfect surface for hidden but necessary sensors.

In 1931, the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz 170 changed everything. For the first time, the radiator was protected by being mounted behind the grille, which was part of the vehicle's hood.

This gave rise to the iconic chrome grille, which not only protected the radiator but also served as an identifier, along with the three-pointed star emblem. Mercedes continued to evolve the chrome grille for decades after that.

 1954 - Mercedes Benz 300 SL

Mercedes-Benz introduced a new standalone grille design with the 300 SL "Gullwing" and the smaller 190 SL roadster in the 1950s. Internally, it's referred to as the "sports car face" which then its horizontal slats became a signature feature of subsequent Mercedes vehicles.

2007 - C Class

On top of Mercedes begins to offer customers grille options based on trim level in 2007, customers get to choose between classic (Classic and Elegance) and sporty (Avantgarde), which has been available in both the C-Class and E-Class.

Different from human face, vehicle grilles age with time evolving and conforming to what the car requires including what is permitted beyond the limits of functionalities. Here we have the legendary Mercedes-Benz to prove its strong strategy in lifting the car’s brand and continue to build more powerful vehicles whether it involves the appearance or beneath the hood.

While in Malaysia, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia (MBM) has started its CKD production for the newly C-Class model with prices range within RM287,888 and the latter from RM327,888. Also launched this year brought us to EQB and EQC electric SUVs apart from EQS 450+ which sports sub-brand’s signature touches such as the grille and all-LED lighting.