BMW promises more distinct styling for next-gen models

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

The firm plans to evolve the design language of its 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-series models in their next generations to create more visual differentiation between models.

“We want each and every model to have its own little world. We think that’s important in a market where we sell two million cars [BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce] this year,” said Karim Habib, BMW brand design director.

“We need to maintain exclusivity, and if anything we will make them more separate,” he added.

BMW’s core model range of 1-, 3-, 5- and 7-series models have styling that has developed to give each one a distinct identity, a trend started in the late 1990s under Chris Bangle after BMW was criticised for making small, medium and large versions of the same car.

Today the 3-series, for example, has crisp-edged styling, whereas the 5-series has a softer look.

“Whatever we do must be authentic design, which represents the inner qualities of the car,” said Habib.

“Why edges? With edges you express precision and the 3-series drives crisply, with precision. But the 5-series is a bit more about elegance, with more volume in the surfaces,” he added.

Habib said BMW can use new headlamp technology, particularly that involving high intensity LED lamps, to give each of the saloon cars a more different and individual front-end graphic to build around its hallmark double-kidney grille.

BMW will shortly launch a new flagship 7-series, which is likely to employ slim LED headlamps as its price point can justify making use of the pricey technology.

Slim headlamps would enable Habib and his team to design the next 7-series around a much larger double-kidney grille with a greater road presence.

The price point of the 3-series, however, can’t yet justify purely LED lighting, so the design would need to incorporate conventional technology headlamps.

Depending on how the cost of LED technology develops the 5-series, due for launch in 2016, could go either way. “The LED tipping point is pretty much here,” said Habib.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...ext-gen-models

[ShocknAwe]

The 3 series hasn't been designed with "crisp-edged styling" since the E46....

[Billup]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

The 3 series hasn't been designed with "crisp-edged styling" since the E46....

x2.

I haven't seen much "distinct" styling from anyone lately actually, other than the newer Lexus line up, which has some of the best body lines out currently, IMO.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Billup

x2.

I haven't seen much "distinct" styling from anyone lately actually, other than the newer Lexus line up, which has some of the best body lines out currently, IMO.

This.

Though the worst offender is Audi, BMW isn't far behind. The 3er and 5er are nearly indistinguishable from behind.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

This.

Though the worst offender is Audi, BMW isn't far behind. The 3er and 5er are nearly indistinguishable from behind.

I think Mercedes is going to beat Audi.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Levi

I think Mercedes is going to beat Audi.

I dunno about that entirely, I really enjoyed the styling of the new CLA45AMG.

[millifoo]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

The 3 series hasn't been designed with "crisp-edged styling" since the E46....

I have to admit that I find it amusing when people feel this way now. At the time of the E46's introduction, there was heavy criticism that it was too soft and had, literally, lost its edge.

Source: I ordered one of the first E46 323i's in the summer of 1998 and spent way too much time arguing on Usenet about it's then "radical" styling.

I remember one fellow described the rear end as "looking like an egg". :-)

[Chihuahua]

Good news. The current crop of BMWs are a total snooze-fest styling wise.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Revisiting this, with the new 7 now revealed, let's see if the 5 series has it's own spin on things.

[BrinkOfDecency]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

I dunno about that entirely, I really enjoyed the styling of the new CLA45AMG.

I agree it looks nice but the driving experience is far inferior to BMW!

[BrokenVert]

Its almost like Chris Bangle was right and good for the company or something.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

Its almost like Chris Bangle was right and good for the company or something.

Not only the company, but the entire automotive design industry. His designs from two decades ago are still being copied today.

[Dackelone]

Do you guys think, one day Chris Bangle will be back in charge at BMW Design?

I know he really has not left BMW... but I mean that he will be "officially back" - back in charge, running things. I think he needs to step out of the shadows and back into the lime light again.

SCOTT26 ???

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Do you guys think, one day Chris Bangle will be back in charge at BMW Design?

I know he really has not left BMW... but I mean that he will be "officially back" - back in charge, running things. I think he needs to step out of the shadows and back into the lime light again.

SCOTT26 ???

Are you sure he is still at BMW?
I read that he quit the automotive industri a few years back when he left BMW and now works for Samsung or something.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Rossifumi

Are you sure he is still at BMW?
I read that he quit the automotive industri a few years back when he left BMW and now works for Samsung or something.

Chris Bangle is still a consultant to BMW from what I understand. That's what I meant about being in the shadows. He has his own design company down in Italy.

http://www.chrisbangleassociates.com...ProfileEng.pdf

[larryn]

There was a term in the 80's and 90's by motor journalists when describing the BMW lineup; "Same Sausage, Different Lengths", and I am glad that they are re-addressing it. Hopefully, it will not be a polarizing as the last go round.

[GuidoK]

My guess is BMW will continue to do/copy what Audi does.
As they are doing it right now....

And audi is the king of indistinguishable cars..

They dont want to risk marmite cars. But that also means there won't be any real innovative succes stories.
Audi is design through evolution, Bangle is design through revolution.

I think bmw's have been altering evolution and revolution design in the past 5 decades. I mean the e21 was a large step off from the previous neue klasse, but the e30 was a polished (evolution) e21. The e36 was a step off the e30 (revolution) but the e46 was a polished e36. And the e90 was again a step off the e46 and the current 3 series is a polished e90.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

I think bmw's have been altering evolution and revolution design in the past 5 decades. I mean the e21 was a large step off from the previous neue klasse, but the e30 was a polished (evolution) e21. The e36 was a step off the e30 (revolution) but the e46 was a polished e36. And the e90 was again a step off the e46 and the current 3 series is a ruined e90.

Fixed. Not that the E90 was all that to shout about.

[GuidoK]

It's not that bad

I think the current 3 series is a very good looking car.
But what has been said is that it very much resembles the 5 series etc.

Just like audi, I'm always wondering if I see an A4 or an A6, especially from the back.
And although I do know the difference between the current rear of the F10 and F30 I can imangine that most people don't.

I think the last e90 and e60 were more marmite, and the current F10 and F30 are more polished to the general public.

I mean on audi designs they polish away all details so there is not much to hate anymore. Downside is that there's also not much left to love anymore.


On a general note I think the e46 was still the nicest of them all.

[tc535i]

Oh great. Because what the 7 series really needs is an even bigger grill.

Amazing.

[Ganxxta]

Originally Posted by tc535i

Oh great. Because what the 7 series really needs is an even bigger grill.

Amazing.

Interesting fact: I was at the IAA in Frankfurt this year and BMW told me that the grill on the new 7 Series is actually always closed completely up to 120kph (or something like that), means the huge size is really unnecessary for the cooling of the engine, its just design, the bigger the kidneys the higher the BMW model.

Well at least Audi can't make their single frame any bigger

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Ganxxta

Interesting fact: I was at the IAA in Frankfurt this year and BMW told me that the grill on the new 7 Series is actually always closed completely up to 120kph (or something like that), means the huge size is really unnecessary for the cooling of the engine, its just design, the bigger the kidneys the higher the BMW model.

Well at least Audi can't make their single frame any bigger

Actually Audi can make the front grill bigger with a garden gate .