Chris Bangle

[mikejungle]

What's the general consensus on this guy?
And what's his future look like? Is he going to continue to design BMW's?

I don't like his cars :down:

[e30e]

He just approves the designs now.

[kellie]

This has been gone over and over and over and over. I'm so tired of Chris Bangle bashing threads. He changed things. People don't like change. Therefore people don't like him.

[fcsteve]

why change what was a good thing ?

[Wishno87]

why change what was a good thing ?

because in all honesty BMW cant keep making E30s forever and still remain competitive.

[fcsteve]

not even that. but keep with performance cars and bmw body styles. they are getting too much like every other car and are more luxury then power now.

[Ben Carufel]

not even that. but keep with performance cars and bmw body styles. they are getting too much like every other car and are more luxury then power now.

That's what people said when the E36 replaced the E30. Look how successful the E36 was.

Then people said the same when the E39 replaced the E34. Look how successful the E39 was.

It's called evolution. They can't keep making cars that look like "traditional" BMWs forever.

Have you noticed that several carmakers are already copying some of BMW's new design cues? Have you taken the time to think "Hey, I know what that means...it means that even though I don't like these new BMW designs, BMW is producing them so that it stays on the leading edge of automotive design."

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Since others are starting to copy certain new BMW design elements (E60/65/90), it should be pretty obvious to you that BMW evolved it's designs in order to stay at the front of the class as far as automotive design goes. You may not like it, but some automaker had to step up and take the lead and push designs into the next realm, and BMW chose to do it.

Have you noticed the new Mercedes-Benz models now have what BMW has been calling "Flame-Surfacing" since they debuted the Z4 in 2003? Sure, BMW fans in general didn't love the new styling at first glance, but BMW is a hell of a lot smarter than you or I as a company, and it knew that this was the direction the industry needed to go in. Sure enough, 4 years later Mercedes-Benz follows suit with it's designs...showing that, once again, BMW continues to be an innovator in the world of automotive design.

That's why they change the look.

While I'm on the subject, quit bitching about it and be glad that the E39s/E46s and other "older" BMW designs that you covet so much are coming way down in price! If they kept making the E39, for instance, there would be no "new bodystyle" to drive the price of the older bodystyle down. You'd have to pay a hell of a lot more for a good example of an E39 or E46. Since there is an E60 and an E90, the E46 and E39 models are now VERY affordable...

[r75]

honda accord assimilation

i agree in some ways with the evolution theory, in the sense that it often takes me a few years of exposure to a new body style in order for me to appreciate it. But in this case, i think bmw has gone to far into the amorphic/animalisitc stylizing. particularly with the elements of design that originated with the early z-cars. some, i really enjoy such as the M coupe, however, i don't think you can "unify" an entire line of vehicles with similar design characterisitics unless you are incredibely controlled in judgement. yes, the guys in munich are often beyond the trendiness, but for now, i feel as though audi has a much stronger design program.

my half of a cent.

[nando]

I think most of the people who bash bangle designs can't afford one of his cars anyway, so it's completely moot.

[eric (^__^)]

I hated the new 5's but the body kit they stick on them now helps a lot

[Hon2BMW]

I like all the current bangle headed/related designs with the exception of the 6. I have to say the Z4 coupe and Roadster are currently at the top of my personal list, and are generally better looking than the Z3.

I do like the E92's, they are damn sexy IMO.

That being said, the E39 and E38 will always be my favorite all time body styles.

I think Chris Bangle brought BMW into the new millennium well, a shift in design is a good thing whether immediately successful or not. The greatest example I can give is how long it took North American car companies to realize they couldn't keep doing the same shit forever and not suffer some sort of consequences.

[JamesE30]

It's called evolution. They can't keep making cars that look like "traditional" BMWs forever.

I don't think you can "unify" an entire line of vehicles with similar design characterisitics unless you are incredibely controlled in judgement.

Porsche/









And for the record, I completely agree with Ben Carufel's post.

[auto da fe]

I think most of the people who bash bangle designs can't afford one of his cars anyway, so it's completely moot.

+1, moot

[mikejungle]

well, i didn't mean for anyone to bash him. I just don't like his designs, and I don't think there's anything wrong with not liking a design. I'm sure they're functional and by the look of it, lots of people like them. And yes, evolution is a must in any field, whether it's science, music, design, etc. I just feel like this evolution could have been taken in a different direction. The design didn't have to evolve this way and it's evident in nature too. Whether you believe that all other organisms evolved from single cell organisms or not, it's impossible for an educated person to deny that creatures do evolve. As an example, there are many birds that live in very similar climates, but there's a branch in their evolution because some of the species decide to go one way while the other in another way.

I'm really saying too much -_-

where did he pick up on the 3 series? the newer e46's? I just don't like it when everything started being about sharp lines and creases. (That's not to say that i don't like the sharp lines of lamborghini's...sharp lines can look good).

I think the new hondas and toyotas are for the most part, pretty ugly. I just lean toward the smoother, less boxier lines of cars like mazda.

Same thing with music...
All these younger kids are listening to these melody-lacking, same-line-repeating hip hop and it's not my thing. I'm a musical person so it's hard for me to understand how there's any artistic aspect of doing something that requires absolutely no skill. The only skill i feel is involved is the ability to come up with a trend. But other people that posses that skill are able to infuse some level of artistry to their work.

anyway.
i've said too much and i don't know if all of it made sense.
main point: I did NOT expect BMW to make e30's forever...i liked the e36, the e46, the e39's...etc. Evolution is essential. I just didn't know that this was the direction they'd take it.
cheers :)

[Motorsports]

BMW has always been Known to be the first to come out with new ideas. That other companies will then follow. I dont think that BMW has ever made a car that i havent been fond of in some way. I like Bangles designs, but i do think that for them to stay on top of the game, and i do believe that they are in front of the game they needed to become more commercial. Every day BMW sell more, and more cars. I believe that every new car that comes out is less involving than its predecessor. That is the reason why i've always loved E30. Am still a hardcore BMW enthusiast, and i loved their designs. But in making their cars less involving i feel that that makes them less of "The Ultimate Driving Machine".