M8 AND 8 SERIES
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos Chris Bangle Reemerges to Critique Banality in Current Car Design

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-20-2017, 03:42 PM   #67
fndrsn
Private First Class
Netherlands
111
Rep
183
Posts

Drives: Nothing...yet!
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Netherlands

iTrader: (0)

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
__________________
Just your average kid with more love for BMW than money to actually buy one
Appreciate 0
      09-20-2017, 04:03 PM   #68
KoenG
Lieutenant Colonel
Belgium
1418
Rep
1,519
Posts

Drives: i4 eDrive40 & Cupra Leon 300
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

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.
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 12:11 PM   #69
raysspl
Brigadier General
raysspl's Avatar
992
Rep
3,001
Posts

Drives: walking, bicycle, & bus
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

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
__________________
re
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 01:04 PM   #70
sygazelle
Brigadier General
11108
Rep
3,404
Posts

Drives: 2014 328i M-Sport, 2019 X5 40i
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: San Francisco

iTrader: (0)

As long as he is not back at BMW.
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 02:06 PM   #71
Never_Enough
Banned
United_States
2202
Rep
2,476
Posts

Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PA

iTrader: (6)

Garage List
Most cars look boring as hell today
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 02:07 PM   #72
Never_Enough
Banned
United_States
2202
Rep
2,476
Posts

Drives: Satan's Chariot 2.0
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: PA

iTrader: (6)

Garage List
All this E60 talk. The E60 M5 needed to be wide body IMO. It looks dated now.
Appreciate 1
chris7197273.00
      09-21-2017, 04:08 PM   #73
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
827
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
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?
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 04:15 PM   #74
chris82
Brigadier General
chris82's Avatar
United_States
827
Rep
3,856
Posts

Drives: 128i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: NY NY

iTrader: (8)

Garage List
2009 BMW 128i  [9.80]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Never_Enough View Post
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
Appreciate 0
      09-21-2017, 04:27 PM   #75
solstice
Major General
5457
Rep
7,037
Posts

Drives: 2015 M3 6MT
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82 View Post
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.
Appreciate 1
chris82827.00
      09-21-2017, 10:29 PM   #76
KevinM
Brigadier General
KevinM's Avatar
2931
Rep
3,285
Posts

Drives: 2002 M5;2007 M Coupe;2020 M2C
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tucson

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2020 M2 Competition  [10.00]
2007 E86 M coupe  [8.38]
2002 E39 M5  [9.00]
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.
__________________
2020 F87 M2C Hockenheim Silver/MT
2002 E39 M5 Sterling Gray/Caramel
2007 E86 Z4M Coupe Silver Gray/Black
2021 Kia Telluride (hauler)
Appreciate 0
      09-22-2017, 10:38 PM   #77
B///MWGuy
Lieutenant
262
Rep
504
Posts

Drives: 2019 X5 xDrive40i
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
My favorite designer. But to each their own.
Appreciate 0
      09-23-2017, 06:44 AM   #78
nunosousa
New Member
13
Rep
28
Posts

Drives: 135i , M3 Cabrio (gone!), i8
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Portugal

iTrader: (0)

Apple ?
Appreciate 0
      09-23-2017, 07:56 AM   #79
Dlpfcb
Captain
479
Rep
645
Posts

Drives: AW E92 M3
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Idaho

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by solstice View Post
We do.



Wait what, ugliest bmw? No way car looks great!
Appreciate 0
      09-23-2017, 04:08 PM   #80
Audio Fan
Major
Audio Fan's Avatar
774
Rep
1,058
Posts

Drives: AY - M4
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NC

iTrader: (0)

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.
Appreciate 0
      09-24-2017, 01:58 AM   #81
iamdabest1
Second Lieutenant
128
Rep
263
Posts

Drives: 2011 m3 dct
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by scorped View Post
Bangle reminds me of Obama; pops up like, 'you miss me, don't you, bitches'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scorped View Post
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 .
Appreciate 0
      09-24-2017, 06:23 PM   #82
hans007
Major
605
Rep
1,077
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW M340i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA

iTrader: (0)

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)
Appreciate 1
jmg18493.00
      09-25-2017, 12:15 AM   #83
c63er
Captain
c63er's Avatar
876
Rep
671
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: BMW

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Never_Enough View Post
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
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.
__________________
Nice cars
Appreciate 0
      09-25-2017, 08:32 PM   #84
nemex12
Captain
114
Rep
973
Posts

Drives: e60,z4
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: florida

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason View Post
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.
__________________
if you want perfection buy a mercedes, or marry an accountant
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2017, 01:30 PM   #85
F32Fleet
Lieutenant General
F32Fleet's Avatar
United_States
3540
Rep
10,328
Posts

Drives: 2015 435i
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Southeastern US

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris82
Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
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?
Dyson in the WSJ announced they've been working on an EV. Maybe it's them
__________________
"Drive more, worry less. "

435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2017, 01:41 PM   #86
Red Bread
Major General
United_States
4462
Rep
9,160
Posts

Drives: Smog machines
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

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

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...c/Druidia2.jpg[/img]
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2017, 01:55 PM   #87
Matt@EuroJerks
Lieutenant
496
Rep
476
Posts

Drives: 2021 Jeep Cherokee
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: CT

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by F32Fleet View Post
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.
Appreciate 0
      09-26-2017, 02:08 PM   #88
GuidoK
#buildnotbought
GuidoK's Avatar
10473
Rep
4,815
Posts

Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Tinkering in the garage

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by KoenG View Post
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.
__________________
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ supercharger | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates | Sachs race engineering clutch | tons of custom sh#t
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:05 PM.




m8
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST