[fndrsn]

Maybe it's just because I was 6 years old, but when the E65 was announced and I saw it in a magazine I instantly fell in love with how it looked. I think most of his designs have aged pretty well, especially his Z4s and LCI E6x family and E9x cars. Still lusting after a Z4 Coupe and E63 M6

[KoenG]

Don't understand sympathy for Bangle.

He states that differentiation is the goal. Just draw a turd than. No other make is willing to try to sell turds in the premium segments.

He could do this trick several times with the E63/5 and a bit less with the E60/90 before BMW management understood that a turd is a turd but doesn't equal to good design. The pressure of many customers to get rid of Bangle also helped as a catalyst of course.

I don't mind that Adrian had the pencil in his hand, the chief of design is paid big money to take ownership for the delivery of his crew.

[raysspl]

Dude's got some great points. Current design language from BMW, MBZ, & Audi is training & preparing consumers to accept singular design themes without much variation from internal product offerings. It does kinda suck. A 5 series looking nearly identical to a 7 series? Really? GTFO

[sygazelle]

As long as he is not back at BMW.

[Never_Enough]

Most cars look boring as hell today

[Never_Enough]

All this E60 talk. The E60 M5 needed to be wide body IMO. It looks dated now.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

One thing that's undeniable about him is that he has passion.

Now onto his secret client.

I initially thought Apple but I'm not sure they qualify as a manufacturer.

He did say "They came to us a couple of years ago and said, 'we want to do a small car,' and I said, ' why don't you go up the street. Pininfarina is up the street. "

Maybe we can figure out who's down the street from Pininfarina?

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Most cars look boring as hell today

If you look from one manufacturer to the next and across the model lineup (and I'm not just realizing this from reading the article) they share the same design cues and it's as if the proportions and ratios of one panel to the next were determined by a computer model, not by a the eye of a designer. I used to look at a car and say "that's ugly as ****!", or "that design is absolutely perfect". I'm finding it harder to say either of those now because by proportions and ratios most cars looks perfectly fine, but nothing is standing out; like the designers or manufacturers are in a comfort zone they don't want to leave

[solstice]

Originally Posted by chris82

He did say "They came to us a couple of years ago and said, 'we want to do a small car,' and I said, ' why don't you go up the street. Pininfarina is up the street. "

Maybe we can figure out who's down the street from Pininfarina?

That would be Chris Bangle design studio. Pininfarina and Bangle design are close by in Piedmont Italy. So no clue on that as who the client is. It's was just Chris saying why don't you just continue up the street if that's what you want since I have very specific requirements to take this on.

[KevinM]

Welcome back Chris. He was lead designer during the production of my favorite BMWs - the E39 and E86. Of course, I happen to own both. I have to admit that when the E65 and E60 came out I wasn't sure about either. But sure enough, design cues from both started to be incorporated into other companies' car designs. And then in 2006 when the Z4M coupe was released...well, I was captivated enough to purchase one in 2007. Flame surfacing and all.

I like modern art, but sometimes the artists push too much for my current tastes. I think Bangle was the same way, but in retrospect I misjudged him. Pushing the boundaries allows for progressive development; it's surprising now that he was allowed to get as far as he did.

[B///MWGuy]

My favorite designer. But to each their own.

[nunosousa]

Apple ?

[Dlpfcb]

Originally Posted by solstice

We do.

Wait what, ugliest bmw? No way car looks great!

[Audio Fan]

I think the designers at Range Rover and Jaguar are really on top of their game. They have a couple of oddballs, but most are awesome. BMW really has a mixed line up for my taste - a few stand outs, but mostly pretty boring.

[iamdabest1]

Originally Posted by scorped

Bangle reminds me of Obama; pops up like, 'you miss me, don't you, bitches'.

Originally Posted by scorped

Bangle reminds me of Obama; pops up like, 'you miss me, don't you, bitches'.

I miss Bangle definitely NOT that piece of trash Hussein .

[hans007]

i never liked his designs personally , but the idea that taking a swing on something and being ok with missing i love.

companies are too safe these days just in terms of everything not just design but even trying anything new.

I drive an audi currently, and my previous car was a bmw. they are good cars but nothing that hits you in the face and excites you design wise at least these last few generations.

I guess the wost offender would be say acura or something. They don't take risks in design, or power train, or anything.

And sadly enough as much as I hate the current lexus design, you have to admit they have taken some more risks at least design wise (not tech / engine wise, but design wise sure)

[c63er]

Originally Posted by chris82

If you look from one manufacturer to the next and across the model lineup (and I'm not just realizing this from reading the article) they share the same design cues and it's as if the proportions and ratios of one panel to the next were determined by a computer model, not by a the eye of a designer. I used to look at a car and say "that's ugly as ****!", or "that design is absolutely perfect". I'm finding it harder to say either of those now because by proportions and ratios most cars looks perfectly fine, but nothing is standing out; like the designers or manufacturers are in a comfort zone they don't want to leave

You rightly point out the reality of the situation. Another term for what you describe is toyota.

Their focus for so many years is to have a design that not offend a single person. Of course design that offends no one excites no one. Which is perfectly fine if you are toyota.

The real problem at bmw is not the design, but the complete embodiment of toyota in that they want not only a design everyone is comfortable with but mechanicals that are also built for absolutely everyone which of course has required them to removal any bit of road feel from the steering, give the car video game levels of grip and power and thus remove any iota of driver involvement in the equation.

That is the issue we have faced the last several years.

Even our old friend Bierman is saying as much now perched at kia. It does seem interesting the negative comments bangle has from the design pov and Bierman has from the technical point of view.

I guess even those two giants speaking isn't enough to wake bmw up then what is left.

[nemex12]

Originally Posted by Jason

Attachment 1692211

We haven't heard from former BMW design chief Chris Bangle much since his departure from BMW. And that's due to his self-exile from designing cars after leaving BMW in 2009. But now he's back and he's got plenty to say about the current state of automotive design, which he thinks could use a shake up.

Catch the original article at Automotive News.

I really miss this guy, to be honest I don't really get excited when a new car is getting launched anymore. except for the "e mission" I haven't seen something that makes me have any kind of emotion in recent years.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by chris82

He did say "They came to us a couple of years ago and said, 'we want to do a small car,' and I said, ' why don't you go up the street. Pininfarina is up the street. "

Maybe we can figure out who's down the street from Pininfarina?

Dyson in the WSJ announced they've been working on an EV. Maybe it's them

[Red Bread]

I think we all know that car is going to suck.

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...c/Druidia2.jpg[/img]

[Matt@EuroJerks]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Dyson in the WSJ announced they've been working on an EV. Maybe it's them

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ic-car-by-2020

Came here to post this.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Don't understand sympathy for Bangle.

He states that differentiation is the goal. Just draw a turd than. No other make is willing to try to sell turds in the premium segments.

Bangle is more of a revolutionairy designer than an evolutionairy designer.
If you look at some audi's (or porsches), every new model looks like the previous one.
Of course that way less mistakes are made in the design, but the chance that something genious is created (like for instance angel eyes as a detail, or the concept of an idrive) is also very small.
And when cardesigners not only look at their previous models but also at their competitors models, it evens out even more.

In retrospect its always less obvious as you see complete ranges of designlines but Bangles' cars were quite a step in a different direction from the then common bmw designs.
I mean look at z3 -> z4 (e85/e86) -> z4 (e89)
The transition z3 -> e85 z4 was huge. These cars are totally different designwise. Bangle totally drew up a new car where v. Hooydonk is much more an evolutionairy designer.