---
title: Mark Fetherston · HICONIUM
description: Mark Fetherston in the HICONIUM register — one file carrying their credit.
canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/people/mark-fetherston
image: https://hiconium.dev/og/people/mark-fetherston.png
---

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> On this page: [Sketch to full size](#sketch-to-full-size) · [Aircraft volumes](#aircraft-volumes) · [Hand-built clay sculpture](#hand-built-clay-sculpture) · [One file carries this name](#one-file-carries-this-name)

People

# Mark Fetherston

Mercedes-Benz designer of the SLS AMG exterior

| Label | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Nationality | British |

The record

British car designer who worked at Mercedes-Benz and whose selected SLS AMG sketch was taken into full-size development. Petersen Automotive Museum credits him with the exterior of the original SLS AMG, not separately with its Black Series derivative.

Fetherston was born in Germany and grew up in Devon. He earned a Transport Design degree at Coventry University in 1999, went directly to Mercedes-Benz, and was selected to complete the B-Class exterior. In December 2011, Top Gear described him as team leader in Exterior Design at Mercedes in Sindelfingen.

Mercedes design teams were asked in 2005 for quarter-scale ideas for a possible new gullwing; Top Gear reported that AMG’s 2006 decision to build a supercar gave the project momentum. Six quarter-scale models followed from the studio proposals, and Fetherston said his sketch was chosen for full-size development. After about six months, the team had “pretty much” its final design. The SLS AMG was introduced at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Reports on the 2011 Concept A-Class identify Fetherston as leader of the exterior-design team. In an interview published around the production A-Class launch, he described the car’s sculpture as made by hand in clay and pointed to its character lines and Dropping Line. A 2013 report on the CLA design video identified him as the car’s exterior-team leader.

The Petersen Automotive Museum attributes the original SLS AMG exterior to Fetherston. Its entry says the Black Series arrived in summer 2013, was inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 and used carbon-fibre body panels, but does not separately name its Black Series designer. Contemporary 2014 coverage also identified Fetherston as exterior designer of the Mercedes-AMG GT.

### Sketch to full size

On the SLS AMG, Fetherston said the finished car remained unusually close to the sketch selected from six quarter-scale studio models after about six months of development.

### Aircraft volumes

For the SLS AMG, Fetherston cited aircraft volumes, the fuselage and the position of a jet cockpit on its body as influences on a simple form intended to avoid fashion.

### Hand-built clay sculpture

Fetherston said the A-Class sculpture was made by hand in clay rather than on a computer, with character lines and the Dropping Line giving it structure.

The house

[![Mercedes-Benz](https://hiconium.dev/images/marques/full/mercedesbenz.svg)](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/mercedesbenz)

Credited through Mercedes-Benz.

In the register

## One file carries this name

- [Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Exterior designer · Mercedes-Benz 2013–2014 €650k 2013–2014 €650k Rating 87.0](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/mercedesbenz/sls-amg-black-series)

The files above are the register's own record of this name. [The people index](https://hiconium.dev/people) holds everyone the register credits.

In their words

> “This is what - for me - is so special and unique about the SLS. I have worked on many cars, but never has a final design looked so similar to the chosen sketch.”

Mark Fetherston · Top Gear, 2011

Sources

- [topgear.com](https://www.topgear.com/car-news/supercars/true-brit-merc-sls-amg)
- [whatcar.com](https://www.whatcar.com/news/merc-sls-british-design-success-story/n7047)
- [500sec.com](https://500sec.com/the-development-of-the-a-class/)
- [petersen.org](https://petersen.org/pages/petersen-vehicle/2014-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-black-series)
- [paultan.org](https://paultan.org/2011/04/21/video-mark-fetherston-on-the-new-mercedes-concept-a/)
- [motorauthority.com](https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1088100_mercedes-benz-cla-class-design-in-detail-video)
- [businesstimes.com.sg](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/motoring/design-coup)
- [handh.co.uk](https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-60---2010-mercedes-benz-sls-amg/?lot=4140)
- [markfetherston.com](https://www.markfetherston.com/about)