Interesting article on Chris Bangle

[222Max]

Bangle remains determined not only to stick with his design direction for BMW but also to stick with BMW.

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews &loc_code=index&content_code=01662794

[NewsReporter]

I don't really have a problem with this guy, he just needs to fix the headlights and I think he has a winner.

[SukairainKupe]

I don't have a problem with him either, he just needs to be a man for once and admit to his failures.

['87 Sentra]

I don't have a problem with him either, he just needs to be a man for once and admit to his failures.



What failures? I think his designs are nice. Just because he steps outside of the norm, and some people don't like his new vision, it doesn't mean that his designs are a failure. It just means that people who see his designs as failures don't like his designs. That is all.

[NJerseyDawg]

What failures? I think his designs are nice. Just because he steps outside of the norm, and some people don't like his new vision, it doesn't mean that his designs are a failure. It just means that people who see his designs as failures don't like his designs. That is all.



The problem is it's not just some people who don't like his designs, it's quite a few. I'm not in love with his designs, but the only part I have a real problem with is the trunk on the 6 and 7. It doesn't even look like it was part of the original build of the car, rather as if someone just stuck it on afterwards.

[pelucidor]

I suspect the reason he is not leaving BMW is that nobody else will take him (even Pontiac where he might be a natural fit). I strongly beleive that he will be gently moved out of BMW altogther within two years - to spend more time with family or to move back to the USA or to become a consultant or some other excuse for being politely canned.

As for his cars - the back end of the 7 and 6 series is unforgiveable (shame it is not as cheap/easy to fix as the front - per 'refreshed' 7 series). One shouldn't 'design' cars around the wish to carry lots of golf bags.
http://g35driver.com/forums/attatchments/250693-Picture008_24Apr04.jpg

The other cars (z4, 5 series) are not hideous - just plain or somewhat ugly.

[skee79]

I can't believe a Bangle post has gotten 5 replies and nothing from Kookz yet http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I actually like the new 6 in person, but still haven't adjusted to the 7 series yet. I don't think any of his cars are THAT bad, it's just that you expect something more universally appealing from a BMW (or at least not so controversial). It is a German car company remember, and the highlights of German engineering are typically refinement, precision and, in the case of cars, performance - not "creativity" http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[NewsReporter]

I don't like the look of the 6

[SukairainKupe]

Hideous is such a harsh word, let's just call it 'Bangle.'

[M_TYPE_X]

Hideous is such a harsh word, let's just call it 'Bangle.'



You call him a 'man' ... I call him 'a styling god' !! http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Just you wait! By the end of the summer, I'll be an automotive marketing 'guru.' http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
... at the entry-level, of course. http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[SHIFT_6speeds]

<font color="red[/img]BMW PRESENTS: </font>

http://home.att.net/~BanglesCom/Bbanner.jpg

[M_TYPE_X]

<font color="red[/img]BMW PRESENTS: </font>

http://home.att.net/~BanglesCom/Bbanner.jpg



Woot! Go BMW.

Can I listen to Bananarama with the Bangles in my BMW?
My Dad did in the 80s! Woot80s!

[Kookz]

I can't believe a Bangle post has gotten 5 replies and nothing from Kookz yet

Sorry, I was in my hometown drooling over all the 5s, 6s, and Z4s that I don't get to see very often around here.

I've made the analogy before. Bangle ~ Roark.

[Dorifto_PG]

The New Bimmers are very well designed imo, and in fact at school, they are what is generally talked about as industry standard. Meaning other companies are recognizing that they are unique and they want to hire desiners who produce similar things. Right now, it is kinda agreed that the top companies are Nissan, BMW, and i suppose AUdi is popular, though i think their design are too generic and tame.

Its such a shame that people actually acknowledge J Mays (Ford) designs in comparison to BMWs-- Bangle's (i know we werent talking about Mays, but if i had to name another current design director who produces some designs that are generic enough for the masses...)

Anyways, A lot of people like the new Ford GT for instance. Sure. I think it looks cool/good too. BUT i like the ORIGINAL GT40. ITS THE SAME DESIGN all that was changed was the addition of an uncharacteristic single, hard, sharp shoulder line on the new car, and a few more angular stylized parts. Other than that, it looks like the same car. People think J Mays is a good designer. THing is, HE DIDN't DESIGN it, he added a stupid line and made it less aerodynamic! [censored] A!

ANd what PRODUCTION car AVAILABLE to the public in Ford's lineup is a good design? I mean really refreshing and crisp? Some Aston Martins and Euro cars like Mondeo and Focus RS. Haha but those werent even touched by J Mays. His "Retrofuturism" is getting out of hand... relying on old, dated, PREVIOUSLY designed cars to evoke....'nostalgia'? I dunno, its not really 'designing' as much as it is 'saving a dying company by bringing back old cars designed by other people back in the 60s' (he did the same thing at VW with the New Beetle). He is a strategist more than designer... WTF?

Whereas:

BMW: Make us different than Mercedes. We do not want to be stereotypical anymore.
Bangle: OK (hires a young new diverse design team)
OUtput: GHAaaa what is THAT!?? Ooooh, actually I kinda like this line... and... oh, it flows into THAT, which wraps around, disappears, and comesback THERE, and this goes from concave to convex, and back and whoa, lines up with THIS!

The more I see 5ers, 6ers, the more i love them! Its so different, yet SO BMW while stepping outside the generic box. Basically, they aim to strike controversy and be in a new realm of design. SOme poeple hate them, some people love them, not much in between. Either wya, the design accurately portrays the attitude and direction of BMW and what its always been.

Cars I could certainly do without: X5, X3, 7... The 7 was the first attempt at the new direction and it was not nearly as refined or precise... basically fell short a lot. New 7 should be nice. Current 3 series is still old design direction, updated with newerISH lights and stuff. Next 3 will be hot. X series. Yuck, SUVs should Die. They are sports cars that have been raised and heavyfied. WHY?


Interesting note: One of my teachers told me at lunch when Bangle and J Mays were at ACCD, Bangle would always wear weird stuff like Mickey Mouse ears into class and J Mays was always in suits and super serious and businessman. Haha, so evident in the designs...

[pelucidor]

It's easy to be 'different' by being bad, it's hard to be different by being good. Case in point - Bangle's Mickey Mouse ears in class tells me he is trying to distract attention from his mediocre talent, although I have no idea why there is any fuss on 'retro' J Mays who is just as bad in a different way. The GT is purely an engineering triumph in that they made a 1960's car body conform to all modern safety, size and environmental standards.

Look at designs in Europe from company's like Alfa or Peugeot, look at Aston Martin or Mazda even. Interesting designs that look good to most people. Look at Bangle - interesting designs (to design students maybe) that look bad to most people.

[Dorifto_PG]

Look at designs in Europe from company's like Alfa or Peugeot, look at Aston Martin or Mazda even. Interesting designs that look good to most people. Look at Bangle - interesting designs (to design students maybe) that look bad to most people.


I agree 100% with this comment. Thing is, it sucks basically if you don't like BMW designs, they say they don't care. And they don't. They are selling really well, and i guess to the "small" group of people who like their cars.

Pontiac was trying to be different with the Aztec and OBVIOUSLY that was a faliure. That was an ugly design. I don't think BMWs are anywhere near that. When you think of what is UGLY versus what is just unconventional, you may change your description of BMW designs. But i mean that's you personally. YOU have an opinion, I have one, Car companies have one. We can all have different opinions, it doesn't really matter. What it comes down to:

Aztec sales: what sales?
New BMW sales: Does anyone NOT have a new bimmer?

Point: Obviously a bunch of people like the designs, and perhaps more importantly the performance.

p.s. to that list of Euro companies add: Seat. Their stuff RULES! (But no RWD yet, which kinda sucks). Also add: Ford Australia. They have some cool ass cars, as well as GM Australia, Nissan and BMW is down there, etc... Yeah, wanna know where i'm gonna work when i graduate? [censored] designing SUVs for LA Soccer Moms I want to design Holdens or something! http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/ooo.gif http://forums.freshalloy.com/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[pelucidor]

This is the biggest issue I have with people defending Bangle design - sales are up so BMW is happy.

NOT.

Sales are NOT up. The old 5-series on it's deathbed sold more than the new 5-series (with all it's pent up demand). The new 7 series outsold the car it replaced in its first year but is down a lot this year - even worse the S-class on its deathbed is outselling the brand new 7-series for the first time in history. Every single BMW that was on sale a year ago is selling worse this year (except some 3-series). This is from BMWs own global sales figures as seen in last weeks AutoSpies and elsewhere.

Of course BMW put a good spin on things (as they need to) and said that overall sales were up - and if you add sales of new models unavailable last year like the X3, the 6-series and some MINI sales increases then this is true. But Bangle design is not doing as well as expected in sales, hence the BMW board giving the go-ahead on a refresh for the 7-series within two years, and toning down the 5-series butt and upcoming 2/4 series etc.

BMW will publicly support Bangle (just like GM and head of design Wayne Cherry supported the guy who designed the Aztec) right up until the moment he is suddenly forced to resign with excuses about health or family reasons. My guess is Bangle will be looking for a new job in 2-3 years time.

Personally I find Bangle designs to have an OK side profile, but awful front/rear. I even considered buying a new 5-series with styling I am not happy with. But to me what really hurts BMW are the new Bangle interiors - the Z4, 5-series and 6-series have the worst looking interiors I've ever seen on any car over $20k, and the materials are unbearably bad/cheap too. I hated the 530i I test drove because of the interior more than anything else.

[M_TYPE_X]

pelucidor is such the anti-Bangle partisan, I'd want to confirm his statements first with quantitative data. But what he's saying seems to make sense. Audi and Benz are taking larger chunks from BMW.

Maybe the 6er rear end isn't so great, but I'd like to see someone photoCHOP it to convince me it's really a bungle.