BMW News: Bangle steps down - Hope for future BMW Designs

Originally Posted by tony325ci_51

Bangle's E9x designs are just too "slab-sided".

It was a missed opportunity to continue the evolution of the 3-series into a sleeker curvier model each time. E21, E30, E36, E46..

E9x reversed the trend, undoubtedly a fine car and better specs wise, but imho a horrible design mistake.

You need to read the article about BMW's chosen design language. They didn't want a sleeker, curvier model.

hold on...
what cars did Bangle design?

Didn't he design ALL BMWs from 1992 to present?

Most of you seem to think bangle started designing BMWs with the E90....

Originally Posted by delmarco

hold on...
what cars did Bangle design?

Didn't he design ALL BMWs from 1992 to present?

Most of you seem to think bangle started designing BMWs with the E90....

Bangle's designs are incorporated in the entire BMW lineup, including the 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 series as well as the X5 SUV platforms E81 / E82 / E87 / E88, E90 / E91 / E92 / E93, E60 / E61, E63 / E64 ,E65 / E66 and E53. The designs have caused widespread controversy and have divided BMW enthusiasts who either love them or hate them. His designs have also influenced other car makers.

Motor Trend's article Interview: Chris Bangle, BMW's Design Chief says:

Love or loathe his work, Bangle's impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon. To "bangle" a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it. Auto writers use "Bangle butt" to describe a tail with an extra layer of metal on the trunk (think new Mercedes S-Class). Bangle, some rivals will remind you, is only one letter away from "bungle."[1]

Bangle aggressively defended his designs against criticism. He was supported by the BMW board of directors, which wanted to move BMW's image into the future. He said it was necessary for product lines to follow a cycle of a revolutionary generation followed by an evolutionary generation followed by another revolutionary generation and so on. Indeed, he oversaw the conservative evolution of BMW designs with the redesign of the BMW 3-Series BMW E46 and the introduction of the BMW X5. For Bangle this marked the end of the evolution of BMW design and the revolution was witnessed with the 2002 introduction of the BMW E65. Bangle acknowledges that his designs do not look good in photographs, suggesting to critics that they should see the cars in real life before judging them on their looks. He introduced a new BMW concept car, called GINA on June 10, 2008.

Despite those criticisms, Bangle's distinctive designs yielded strong commercial success for BMW. In 2006, BMW overtook Mercedes as the global leader in premium car sales. BMW will continue to use Bangle's current design cues at least through 2010.[4]

Originally Posted by delmarco

Bangle's designs are incorporated in the entire BMW lineup, including the 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 series as well as the X5 SUV platforms E81 / E82 / E87 / E88, E90 / E91 / E92 / E93, E60 / E61, E63 / E64 ,E65 / E66 and E53. The designs have caused widespread controversy and have divided BMW enthusiasts who either love them or hate them. His designs have also influenced other car makers.

Motor Trend's article Interview: Chris Bangle, BMW's Design Chief says:

Love or loathe his work, Bangle's impact on auto design has been profound. No other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon. To "bangle" a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it. Auto writers use "Bangle butt" to describe a tail with an extra layer of metal on the trunk (think new Mercedes S-Class). Bangle, some rivals will remind you, is only one letter away from "bungle."[1]

Bangle aggressively defended his designs against criticism. He was supported by the BMW board of directors, which wanted to move BMW's image into the future. He said it was necessary for product lines to follow a cycle of a revolutionary generation followed by an evolutionary generation followed by another revolutionary generation and so on. Indeed, he oversaw the conservative evolution of BMW designs with the redesign of the BMW 3-Series BMW E46 and the introduction of the BMW X5. For Bangle this marked the end of the evolution of BMW design and the revolution was witnessed with the 2002 introduction of the BMW E65. Bangle acknowledges that his designs do not look good in photographs, suggesting to critics that they should see the cars in real life before judging them on their looks. He introduced a new BMW concept car, called GINA on June 10, 2008.

Despite those criticisms, Bangle's distinctive designs yielded strong commercial success for BMW. In 2006, BMW overtook Mercedes as the global leader in premium car sales. BMW will continue to use Bangle's current design cues at least through 2010.[4]

...Along with the above stated info, Bangle was part of the E46 development as well. It's more about the design language of the company, and less about Bangle himself.

Originally Posted by blp88

How does one pernounce 'Hooydonk'?

Well,

Originally Posted by tony325ci_51

... the Audi S5.

http://www.webridestv.com/photos/200...udi-s5-78307/8

Good God, that's sexy! Just look at the body line that runs from the headlight corner, across the front quarter all the way back to the upper corner of the taillight. Just beautiful

Too bad I can't get one of those with a BMW engine. I'll stick to my Bimmer for now!

I think they are pics of the 2012 3 series somewhere online. It actually looks beefy and much like the new design Z4.

here we go...

Originally Posted by GoingNuts

The classic German BMW design is an unmistakable German-helmet wearing man kind of design. It is proud, unashamed, and nothing flabby, flimsy, or girly like that of bangle's design. The testosterone in the classic design is unmistakable. Here's an example:

That is HOT!!!

Originally Posted by M3Inline6

You need to read the article about BMW's chosen design language. They didn't want a sleeker, curvier model.

Obviously not.

Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead! This is even better than the fall of the Berlin Wall. Unfortunately he managed to disfigure an entire generation of BMW's before they finally realized what a ghastly thing he had done to the BMW legacy. I believe that the current 5 and 7 will be considered two of the ugliest cars ever designed.

2 days ago i stumbled across pictures of the New 5 Series and i was absolutly disgusted. the rear looks like a ford mondeo and the front is just disgusting .. my favourite bmw car of all time is the e46 M3 as it such a beautiful and aggressive looking car. when i first saw the new 3 series i didn't like it but it has now slowly grown on me .. however, i doubt the 5 series will ever grow on anyone!

Originally Posted by suchards

2 days ago i stumbled across pictures of the New 5 Series and i was absolutly disgusted. the rear looks like a ford mondeo and the front is just disgusting .. my favourite bmw car of all time is the e46 M3 as it such a beautiful and aggressive looking car. when i first saw the new 3 series i didn't like it but it has now slowly grown on me .. however, i doubt the 5 series will ever grow on anyone!

That's not what people said in the beginning. The E46 was met with much derision initially. Now it's highly regarded!

Originally Posted by Rayce185

You guys DO realize that he also designed the E46?

Uh, wrong answer. Eric Goplen from Designworks USA designed the E46. He was called upon by Henrik Fisker, whom designed for BMW Technik in the early 90s, and later became Chief of Designworks USA. Goplen was noted for steadfastness to evolve the E46 in a more flowing and rounded style as opposed to the slab side and "flame surfacing" that the new Design Chief Chris Bangle wanted to implement. Epic battles ensued between the two, but corporate "persuaded" the new chief to sign off on the design and put the controversy to rest. Bangle of course got his "revenge" when almost every subsequent design got his influences. Bangle mentored von Hooydonk so expect more of the same "innovativeness" .

I dunno about you guys, but I really liked the bmw 3 series because once it was well modded, it looked like a sleek italian sportscar... and much cheaper than a maserati... hahaha

the new bmws just look like a toyota on steroids... I want that sexy sleek look back...

Rae

Great day for us Dutch
van Hooydonk will be head of designing so FINALLY the German company is turning Dutch man I can't wait for the designs because van Hooydonk has fantastic ideas for the future of BMW

Originally Posted by shortyb

Uh, wrong answer. Eric Goplen from Designworks USA designed the E46. He was called upon by Henrik Fisker, whom designed for BMW Technik in the early 90s, and later became Chief of Designworks USA. Goplen was noted for steadfastness to evolve the E46 in a more flowing and rounded style as opposed to the slab side and "flame surfacing" that the new Design Chief Chris Bangle wanted to implement. Epic battles ensued between the two, but corporate "persuaded" the new chief to sign off on the design and put the controversy to rest. Bangle of course got his "revenge" when almost every subsequent design got his influences. Bangle mentored von Hooydonk so expect more of the same "innovativeness" .

This isn't entirely true. Yes, Eric Goplen's design won for the E46 platform, and yes, Fisker was the President/CEO of Designworks (..until he left in 2001 to join Ford), but to suggest that there was some sort of tug-of-war between the design philosophies is incorrect. There was no epic battle, and the design philosophy of the current cars was decided before the E46 was introduced. BMW (..corporate/family) wanted each car to have its own look; its own personality. No more of the prevalent "same sausage, different length" design philosophy. The current designs had nothing to do with revenge. There are over 200 designers vying to see their designs reach manufacturing fruition. It's about artistic vision and nothing more.

Originally Posted by M3Inline6

This isn't entirely true. Yes, Eric Goplen's design won for the E46 platform, and yes, Fisker was the President/CEO of Designworks (..until he left in 2001 to join Ford), but to suggest that there was some sort of tug-of-war between the design philosophies is incorrect. There was no epic battle, and the design philosophy of the current cars was decided before the E46 was introduced. BMW (..corporate/family) wanted each car to have its own look; its own personality. No more of the prevalent "same sausage, different length" design philosophy. The current designs had nothing to do with revenge. There are over 200 designers vying to see their designs reach manufacturing fruition. It's about artistic vision and nothing more.

If you noted, there is some sarcasm in my post. First, you are correct. There were no "epic" battles as would be those well known or through publication. What it boiled down to was that Bangle wanted the E46 to be the first platform with the "new" design philosophy. Goplen, and with support from Fisker, basically lobbied BMW to keep Goplen's design proposal intact (which they did). It is well known in the Corporate circle that Bangle was kind of miffed about this. I may have overblown the story by my description, but you have to look past the sarcasm.

As for revenge, notice I put that word in quotations. This was meant to show that some folks believe that he went overboard on the departure from BMW's more conservative design philosophy and basically ran roughshod by doing things his way. Some would also say he enacted his decisions and executions by his messiah-istic approach, all the while trying to sabotage the brand from an aesthetic standpoint. Of course this isn't true, just what some say. Hence the "revenge".

Originally Posted by shortyb

he went overboard on the departure from BMW's more conservative design philosophy

Yes, he went overboard and out the door. Now we celebrate .

As you know Bangle's background well, I have a question to clarify. Was he responsible for some of Ford's designs ? I thought the red rear bumper reflectors on the E46 came straight from the Ford Focus and the E92 was an evolution of the Ford Cougar. Even though Ford had reasonable designs, I didn't think BMW needed to go so low as to take design cues from a brand occupying a lower segment in the market place. Hence my suspicion was that the same person did the Ford and BMW cars.

Originally Posted by GoingNuts

Yes, he went overboard and out the door. Now we celebrate .

As you know Bangle's background well, I have a question to clarify. Was he responsible for some of Ford's designs ?

Not to my knowledge. He worked for Opel and Fiat, but not for Ford or any affiliates. In fact, J. Mays (Chief of Ford's Creative Design) doesn't care for Bangle's designs much either. And Ford of Europe's head of design, Martin Smith, holds Bangle responsible for the trend towards "surface entertainment" in modern car design from many manufacturers.

Lots of critics and not many fans. Maybe he should have stuck to becoming a minister like he originally planned to do.