Former Rolls-Royce design head found murdered in attempted robbery

The automotive design world was shocked and saddened as it awoke to the news of the violent death of former Rolls-Royce design head, Ian Cameron. The Brit, aged 74, was stabbed to death in an attempted robbery at his home in Bavaria, Germany.

Investigators suspected that the target was Cameron’s prized collection of expensive cars. German newspapers reported that the home’s surveillance cameras appeared to have been severed.

Cameron was known as the man in charge of shaping the Rolls-Royce of today following the Spirit of Ecstasy’s takeover by the BMW Group. He was responsible for shaping the Phantom and the Ghost series and retired from Rolls-Royce in 2012.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, the British designer began his automotive design career at Pininfarina where he helped to design the Lancia Montecarlo. Later, he moved to Iveco before switching to BMW in 1992 where he was credited with the designs of the BMW Z8, BMW 3 Series, and the L322 Range Rover when Land Rover was under BMW’s ownership.

His biggest contribution was in revamping the image of Rolls-Royce with the Phantom. The luxury car catapulted the brand into a new stratosphere and not only revitalized the brand’s image but the entire ultra-luxury segment.

Upon hearing news that Mercedes-Benz was planning to revive the Maybach brand to compete with BMW Group’s Rolls-Royce, Cameron was nonchalant about it. In an obituary piece for Autocar UK, Steve Cropley reminisced what the designer told him:

“The big difference is that the Maybach is still a Mercedes. The Phantom, whatever you think of it, is certainly not a BMW. If you want a kitchen – think of those super-technical German kitchen suppliers – buy a Maybach. But if you want a car you can enjoy every day, and drive flat out to Monte Carlo, buy a Phantom.”