Laurens van den Acker, the auto designer responsible for much of Mazda’s current design language, will become Renault’s VP of Corporate design, replacing tenured designer Patrick le Quément, who will retire later this year. A protege of Ford’s J Mays, van den Acker’s most recently-debuted vehicle was the 2010 Mazda Mazda3.
Since his placement as Mazda’s top designer in 2006, van den Acker’s creations have included the automaker’s Nagare and Ryuga concept cars, both of which heavily inspired the 2009 Mazda6 and 2010 Mazda3, as well as recent facelifts of the company’s MX-5 Miata, CX-7 and CX-9 (pictured).
The Dutch designer got his start at Turin, Italy’s Design System srl, where he worked on the Bugatti EB110’s interior. He worked with J Mays at Audi and he followed the designer to Ford in 1998.
04/13, 9:23 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
This fool who created that ridiculous Mazda grin should have been fired and forbidden from ever having a job again in the auto industry. Mazda’s before him looked desirable, but after him they look stupid.
04/13, 9:57 AM
posted by:
cobra32
Glad to see him go, good luck at renault.
04/13, 11:19 AM
posted by:
Borat
Well, life just become easier for him: he unsuccessfully copied Peugeot face onto Mazda, doing it France will be less time consuming: there is no time difference as between France and Japan.
04/13, 12:28 PM
posted by:
TomF
Hey, I like the new Mazda3. At least it’s something different.
04/13, 1:56 PM
posted by:
Borat
Tom it is a copy of some Peugeot or combination of 2-3 of Peugeot models. Clear resemblance to 308 5 door.
04/13, 2:50 PM
posted by:
TomF
@Borat: I see what you mean. I like the Peugeots as well.
04/13, 3:41 PM
posted by:
sprockkets
Of course, he came from Peugeot, that would explain the designs.
04/13, 4:10 PM
posted by:
shane train
van den Acker didn’t design the 3. His design language in concept cars inspired it. He didn’t put his fingerprints on the Smiley 3 directly.
04/13, 8:16 PM
posted by:
andy
haha no way! i now know the name of the guy who is responsible for that ugly ass ****-eating-grin they call a grill
04/14, 12:48 AM
posted by:
sharpie
A quick look at the Ryuga will tell you that Acker indeed is guilty of the gaping “grin!” Grin like that might spark conversation on a concept, but should never make it into a production car, let alone becoming a brand language. So which is worse? The Mazda gaping grin, or the Subaru nose found on the first B9 Tribeca?