In a surprise move, Gorden Wagener, the former design boss of Mercedes-Benz, has revealed a never-before-seen showcar concept that reimagines one of the brand's most outlandish racers. The concept, dubbed the "Red Pig," is inspired by the Mercedes-AMG 300 SEL 6.3 'Rote Sau' from 1971. The Red Pig is a radical reinterpretation of the original design, with a more modern and sleek aesthetic. The showcar features a softening of the original's squared-off haunches, along with a more aggressive front grille and starry headlights. The most striking feature, however, is the massive wheels that dominate the showcar's stance. Wagener, who stepped down as MB's design boss at the end of January 2026, revealed the concept on his social media feed, stating that it was "inspired by the Mercedes-AMG 300 SEL 6.3 'Rote Sau' from 1971 – another legendary design from the past into the future." The original 300 SEL 6.3 'Rote ...
In a surprise move, Gorden Wagener, the former design boss of Mercedes-Benz, has revealed a never-before-seen showcar concept that reimagines one of the brand’s most outlandish racers. The concept, dubbed the “Red Pig,” is inspired by the Mercedes-AMG 300 SEL 6.3 ‘Rote Sau’ from 1971.
The Red Pig is a radical reinterpretation of the original design, with a more modern and sleek aesthetic. The showcar features a softening of the original’s squared-off haunches, along with a more aggressive front grille and starry headlights. The most striking feature, however, is the massive wheels that dominate the showcar’s stance.
Wagener, who stepped down as MB’s design boss at the end of January 2026, revealed the concept on his social media feed, stating that it was “inspired by the Mercedes-AMG 300 SEL 6.3 ‘Rote Sau’ from 1971 – another legendary design from the past into the future.”
The original 300 SEL 6.3 ‘Rote Sau’ was a beast of a car, with a 6.8-litre V8 producing 428bhp and 457lb ft. It was capable of accelerating from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds and was one of the last cars standing at the finish of the 1971 Spa 24hrs.
While the Red Pig concept is purely fictional, it’s an interesting idea that showcases Wagener’s creativity and passion for design. It’s clear that he’s not afraid to think outside the box and push the boundaries of what’s possible with Mercedes-Benz’s iconic designs.
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