sleder

Chief Saab stylist Michael Mauer will leave the Swedish company to become the head designer at Porsche, the German sportscar maker announced on Monday. Current Porsche stylist Harm Lagaay, who penned the Boxster and the current 911, will retire on July 1 after 15 years with the company. Mauer, the Saab stylist who also worked at Mercedes-Benz, will join Porsche by November 1, according to a release. Mauer had been with Saab since 2000.

2002M3Drew

We have a new 9-3 Sports Sedan, so I obviously like the styling job he did there!

Thank god Porsche didn't hire away Chris Bangle from BMW!!

sleder

Hey this Mr Mauer hasn't started yet...so please lets not grant credit yet. As for Chris Bangle, yes he CHANGED the look of BMW, but the look from the 911to 993 to 996 has been rather dramatic as well. Not the "chunk in the trunk" of the 7 series to the new Acura TL, and a number of new models you haven't seen yet...Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope our prayers are answered.

2002M3Drew

Truth be told, the 997 is not exactly the stuff of dreams. I was much more elated when they went from the 964 (which I never liked) to the 993 (which is the high point in modern Porsches IMO). Maybe a little change will be good...time will tell.

MRFLATSIX

I shudder at the thought of Chris Bungle styling Porsches. If you'll remember it was Harm Lagay who styled that hideous Panamericana of a few years ago. I saw it at the L.A. auto show and the crowd walking by the Porsche srand were laughing. The Porsche sales people looked embarressed. On the other hand the 993 is the highlight of early 911 styling. Let's hope Mauer does a nice job. Porsche needs all the help it can get these days. They seem to have decided to become a mass-market car company rather than an enthusiast company. Actually, I wish VW would buy them. Porsche could stick to sports cars and leave the trucks and stuff to VW. They could get back to racing and regain their prestige. I guess it won't happen, VW seems to be buying Maserati.

JackOlsen

Who was responsible for the 993?

MRFLATSIX

I believe it was Harm Lagay.

hammarvid

I've been working together with Mauer at Saab (I am still there).
You will not get disappoited, that is my opinion.
He won't let go of the heritage.

A designers dream job I guess

AZ911

I for one think the new bmw 5/6/7 series look great. While most car companys are gowing towards bland generic styling BMW has gone the other direction.

Hopefully Michael Mauer will take Porsche in a positive new direction.

karlfrevans

AZ911

I like Bangle's new designs too (the 7 series excepted). His ideas are fresh and daring.