Yesterday’s Cars Are Shaping Tomorrow’s Software-Defined Vehicles

At the dawn of the software-defined vehicle, it’s easy to think that the most modern models don’t rely on the past for design or technology influence, but that is not the case. The technology-rich, digitized vehicles of today have one wheel in today and another in yesterday.

“The general understanding is that technology can improve the life of the individual, as well as of society as a whole,” Marcus Breitschwerdt, Chairman of Mercedes‑Benz Heritage, told Newsweek.

“Not everybody believes that nowadays, very many people on the surface tell you ‘listen to the science,’ but they are very skeptical about technology. They are very critical, which, in my humble opinion, is failing and missing the game completely. Because our culture, our good life, relatively speaking, looking into the whole history of mankind, the good life we have simply is a good life because of applied science because of technological solutions for things which make life better,” he said.

The driving force of technological advancement is what roots Mercedes-Benz and pushes it into tomorrow. Breitschwerdt, who has held many roles throughout his long tenure at the automaker, including CEO of its Canada and U.K. markets, calls Mercedes-Benz an “engineer company,” one that focuses on creating new technology and using technology to find solutions.

Those roots stretch back to the origin of the company, over 100 years ago. Mercedes-Benz, Breitschwerdt pointed out, invented the lightweight, small, fast running combustion engine. He said: “This engine is the mother of all modern cars because it’s light, it’s fast running. It gives you the torque and the speed so you can move.”

The automaker recently unveiled its new CLA sedan, a car that runs on next-generation powertrains with industry-leading efficiency, a direct link to the company’s roots as pointed out by its Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer at the CLA’s debut in Rome.

Breitschwerdt said that “pioneer spirit” is just the beginning. High-quality builds that were executed with precision to stand the test of time were the other part of the equation that has helped Mercedes-Benz retain its prominence in the market for decades. “If you look into our cars, you see the idea is not to be out fashioned next year or five years from now. So you can look into our classic cars, they are still all absolutely fitting into the current world. There’s nothing embarrassing. There’s nothing which is outdated or actually not attractive,” he said.

The Mercedes-Benz cars of yesterday can be seen at the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and the company keeps collections at its Classic Centers in Long Beach, California and Fellbach, Germany, which are located near key Mercedes-Benz design and engineering hubs.

“I show people all these cars, and they are outstanding. But then I try to drill down, to boil it down to such principles, and to tell them [what made these models great], this is still alive [within Mercedes-Benz]. The same values are still alive. We are still going for it. We are still pushing it, we are still kind of burning for it… That’s the real heritage,” Breitschwerdt said.

Ford’s Heritage Fleet delivers inspiration for the future as well. “More than just a collection of classic vehicles, our Heritage Fleet is a living archive of Ford’s soul. It chronicles the stories of the people who built this company, the groundbreaking innovations that defined eras, the design leaps that captured imaginations, and the racing triumphs that forged our competitive spirit. By immersing themselves in this rich history, our teams find the spark of inspiration needed to create the next generation of Ford vehicles, ensuring our legacy of innovation continues to thrive,” Ted Ryan, Ford’s Archives and Heritage Brand Manager, told Newsweek.

“Our Heritage Fleet isn’t just a museum; it’s a wellspring of ideas for our designers and engineers. By studying the iconic designs, ingenious engineering solutions and enduring values embodied in these vehicles, they can unlock new possibilities and create vehicles that not only meet the demands of tomorrow but also carry the spirit of Ford’s remarkable past into the future,” he said.

Automakers frequently weave models of the past into their storytelling when a new version arrives. It doesn’t take stepping inside a gallery for the enthusiast to see that Nissan’s latest iteration of the Z sports car is chock full of throwback design. In fact, when it was introduced in 2021, design head Alfonso Albiasa spent nearly as much time talking about its links to the past as he did the just-revealed version of the car.

Ford’s presentation of the next-generation Mustang in 2022 included an extended look back at the company’s generations of Mustangs.

And, as future-heavy as the Mercedes-Benz CLA introduction presentation in Rome last month was, it was laced with glimpses of the heritage of the company.