Let’s decode the centripetal pull of branding by going beyond fashion and looking at the logos of 7 popular automotive brands that scream loud luxury.
Charles Sykes was requested to design a mascot to adorn all Rolls-Royce vehicles, and he ingeniously modified the emblem he had created for Lord Montagu. It is worth noting that the “Spirit of Ecstasy” did not become a standard feature on Rolls-Royce cars until the 1920s.
The iconic tri-star emblem was designed by Gottlieb Daimler, who reportedly sent a postcard to his wife in which he sketched a simple drawing of a three-pointed star. Each point of the star symbolises Mercedes-Benz’s ambition to build vehicles to dominate on the land, sea, and in the air.
The story behind this emblem harks back to Otone Visconti, the founder of the Visconti family, who defeated a Saracen knight in combat and adopted the symbol on the knight’s shield – a snake consuming a human.
The Ferrari logo tells a captivating tale of speed, heroism, and Italian pride. Enzo Ferrari, the automotive maestro behind the brand, found inspiration in the emblem of World War I fighter pilot Francesco Baracca.
It is believed that it all started with a trip taken by Ferruccio Lamborghini to Don Eduardo Miura’s ranch, where the magnificent fighting bulls were bred. Lamborghini was deeply impressed by the prowess and vigour of these animals so much so that the bulls found their way to the company’s crest
Audi, was born out of the amalgamation of four distinct car manufacturers: Audi, Horch, DKW, and Wanderer, and their union presented an interesting design challenge. The solution came in the form of four interlocking rings, representing the unity of these four pioneering brands under a single banner.
The circular emblem is divided into four quadrants, with alternating white and blue sections. These colours harken back to the company’s Bavarian origins. The white quadrants feature a stylised interpretation of a spinning aircraft propeller against a blue sky background.