Chris Bangle Reemerges to Critique Banality in Current Car Design

[antzcrashing]

I own a bangle era car but I honestly dont think its the prettiest, but its aggressive which I like. I agree that generally modern cars are somewhat bland, and designers have lost direction, they dont know what to do next! Bmw just makes the grills bigger and acts like it reinvented sliced bread

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by scorped

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

Nope. Lol.

[BwoodBMW]

I do miss the era of each series standing on its own design wise (or at least moreso). Sick of small medium and large versions of car design.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by KSERGEI-BY

I never liked Bangle's creations. IMHO he was not able to draw anything I can call elegant.
BMW of his era looks very dated now, comparing to today's cars.

Get an eye exam stat !

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Going Slightly off topic, one of Bangle's iconic models, the E63 6 Series is regarded as a future classic by Classic Car Mart.

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I immensely dislike this design, which to me has aged terribly. Having said that, his designs were exciting and his hits were as big as his misses and you have to admire that kind of fearlessness in design. Today BMW is playing it too safe. The 5 series is a big disappointment for me. The most exciting things are happening in the i division right now, despite everyone's hesitation to embrace EVs. The i8, to me, is one of the best bmw designs post bangle. The i3 is an ugly duckling, but at least it's trying to be unique. I hope the next 3 series is much much more forward thinking and more like the 8 and Z concepts and less like more of the same thing in the 5.

[clbmw]

Originally Posted by jmg

I immensely dislike this design, which to me has aged terribly. Having said that, his designs were exciting and his hits were as big as his misses and you have to admire that kind of fearlessness in design. Today BMW is playing it too safe. The 5 series is a big disappointment for me. The most exciting things are happening in the i division right now, despite everyone's hesitation to embrace EVs. The i8, to me, is one of the best bmw designs post bangle. The i3 is an ugly duckling, but at least it's trying to be unique. I hope the next 3 series is much much more forward thinking and more like the 8 and Z concepts and less like more of the same thing in the 5.

Well the imminent 6 series (5 GT) has ensured that this design is spectacular in comparison

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by jmg

I immensely dislike this design, which to me has aged terribly. Having said that, his designs were exciting and his hits were as big as his misses and you have to admire that kind of fearlessness in design. Today BMW is playing it too safe. The 5 series is a big disappointment for me. The most exciting things are happening in the i division right now, despite everyone's hesitation to embrace EVs. The i8, to me, is one of the best bmw designs post bangle. The i3 is an ugly duckling, but at least it's trying to be unique. I hope the next 3 series is much much more forward thinking and more like the 8 and Z concepts and less like more of the same thing in the 5.

I on the contrary like this design very much! Chris Bangle designs at least created strong feelings, not like most of today's designs unfortunately...

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by jmg

I immensely dislike this design, which to me has aged terribly. Having said that, his designs were exciting and his hits were as big as his misses and you have to admire that kind of fearlessness in design. Today BMW is playing it too safe. The 5 series is a big disappointment for me. The most exciting things are happening in the i division right now, despite everyone's hesitation to embrace EVs. The i8, to me, is one of the best bmw designs post bangle. The i3 is an ugly duckling, but at least it's trying to be unique. I hope the next 3 series is much much more forward thinking and more like the 8 and Z concepts and less like more of the same thing in the 5.

I agree that the i8 design is one of the greatest in the past few years: futuristic, distictive and sporty at the same time. One can only imagine this design translated into a "normal" supercar with the hybrid powertrain replaced by a V8 or V10. it would be a worthy successor to the M1!

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

I on the contrary like this design very much! Chris Bangle designs at least created strong feelings, not like most of today's designs unfortunately...

Different folks different strokes. I think my main criticism of his designs were consistently the headlights.

[Bluesummer]

Originally Posted by DocB

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


No love loss here for Obama. Plenty happy for him to stay in the shadows.

I don't miss Obama. But someone, anyone from any manufacture please bring Bangle back.

[F32Fleet]

One additional thought.

EU pedestrian impact regulations have a significant impact upon automotive design. The regulation basically made cars grill centric and none of the bangle-era cars would pass.

Low volume producers get somewhat of a reprive.

[beMtroubleYou]

When I saw E60 and E90 first time I knew I hated this guy.

From those pretty E46/E39 to pure shit in design.

[sharocks]

Dude ruined the 5 and butchered the 6.

No sympathy. I see more E60's and E63's than I do E85/86 so Bangle can get rekt for that.

[3M TAPE]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Going Slightly off topic, one of Bangle's iconic models, the E63 6 Series is regarded as a future classic by Classic Car Mart.

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Actually, Bangle oversaw the project on this one, the person who designed was Adrian Van Hooydonk.

[3M TAPE]

Originally Posted by sharocks

Dude ruined the 5 and butchered the 6.

No sympathy. I see more E60's and E63's than I do E85/86 so Bangle can get rekt for that.

Did you know Bangle designed your car as well?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by 3M TAPE

Did you know Bangle designed your car as well?

The OP didn't say everything he did was wrong. Just that the ones he stated.

[KSERGEI-BY]

Originally Posted by jmg

The OP didn't say everything he did was wrong. Just that the ones he stated.

Bangle did not designed the e46. Erik Goplen was the main man in the team, they penned the whole thing.

That what Bangle does in fiat:

[Law]

Originally Posted by KSERGEI-BY

Bangle did not designed the e46. Erik Goplen was the main man in the team, they penned the whole thing.

That's incorrect.
The E46 M3 was actually designed by Ulf Weidhase (Goplen did the 3er, not M3).

If you read my post on the first page, you'd know that these cars are not the work of solely one individual (be it Bangle or someone else).
While the designer is responsible for the original sketch, other team members will often add their own touches and the overall design is overseen by the Head of Design (Bangle). There is a lot of back & forth and compromise, and that's before the engineers come back with feedback (on aerodynamics, safety, etc.).
So you'd be mistaken if you think Bangle had no hand in the design of the E46 M3 (or any BMW that was designed under his tenure as Head of Design).

In fact, Bangle's fingerprints are on the E46 M3 design patent:

[Deluxx3]

Originally Posted by perezr10

Totally disagree. Pre-LCI E90 looks much better than the distorted face on the LCI E90.

Pre-LCI e90 is 11 years old and looks 11 years old. Same with the e60. The LED headlights on the LCI e90 give it some much-needed life, especially with the M-Sport package which makes it look agressive and timeless.

I think the e60 is one of BMW's ugliest cars to date - but everyone has different taste

[Deluxx3]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Going Slightly off topic, one of Bangle's iconic models, the E63 6 Series is regarded as a future classic by Classic Car Mart.

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But it looks like a depressed fish. You can tell this car is old and every time it drives by I squirm

[solstice]

Originally Posted by Deluxx3

I think the e60 is one of BMW's ugliest cars to date - but everyone has different taste

We do.

[Chihuahua]

Such a stunning looking car, especially from the front. Looks like it could be released this year and still be relevant.