Chinese car makers are eating German designers' lunch

[Jimjamz]

I just saw the Chinese-owned new MG cyberster design. Wow.

Meanwhile, Geely-owned Lotus smashed it out of the park with the Emira.

BMW designers used to get this kind of credit. Now they release horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosities and we find ourselves defending the design to justify our passion for the brand's previous designs.

I think the days of laughing at Chinese owned car designs are past us. In the course of even 5 years, the tables have been turned.

[Westside Guy]

Obviously you have never looked at a G29 Z4. It has beautiful lines and definitely not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity.

I accept your apology.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

Meanwhile, Geely-owned Lotus smashed it out of the park with the Emira.

100%

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

BMW designers used to get this kind of credit. Now they release horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosities and we find ourselves defending the design to justify our passion for the brand's previous designs.

100%

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

I think the days of laughing at Chinese owned car designs are past us. In the course of even 5 years, the tables have been turned.

We used to laugh at their quality, and their quirky designs (still designed for their own people, but brought to these shores). Now that they are designed for Americans and the quality has come up to par there is nothing left to laugh at. Maybe parts availability.

[Murf the Surf]

Given the track record of industrial spying the Chinese have I don't know how much credit I would give them for design.

[pikkagtr]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Given the track record of industrial spying the Chinese have I don't know how much credit I would give them for design.

This isn't going to help your social credit

[smrtypants44]

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

BMW designers used to get this kind of credit. Now they release horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosities and we find ourselves defending the design to justify our passion for the brand's previous designs.

This is just flame surfacing/Bangle round 2. People will complain and yet cars will still sell and BMW will refine the design language.

But to label the sixth-generation Fiver as an aesthetic or strategic regression would be incorrect, van Hooydonk tells us. As he points out, BMW design has a tendency to periodically muscle in with big, bold, design statements – to knock down walls – and in the follow-up model, its stylists can move about a bit more in the clean air made possible by its predecessor.

https://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/25/...s-first-drive/

[chassis]

China is the largest single auto market now. GM and Ford are starting to assemble cars in China for sale in the U.S. All car companies are paying attention to what happens in China, including or especially the Germans. Ford and GM are shadows of their former selves and Chrysler is effectively no more.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Given the track record of industrial spying the Chinese have I don't know how much credit I would give them for design.

Cmon, as if they cornered the market on that.

If ppl didn't steal or learn from the Chinese, many would still be living in caves.

[jmg]

Competition is good. It keeps everyone on their toes.

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Obviously you have never looked at a G29 Z4. It has beautiful lines and definitely not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity.

I accept your apology.

There's a chic in my building that has a black Z4 M40i. Occasionally I roll out the garage behind her and man that thing looks awesome!

If only I didn't need four doors and hatch

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

There's a chic in my building that has a black Z4 M40i. Occasionally I roll out the garage behind her and man that thing looks awesome!

If only I didn't need four doors and hatch

She might accuse you of sexual harassment if you get caught checking out her rear like this!

[heavyD^2]

Yawn. The "horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosities" have catapulted BMW to the global luxury car sales crown two years running. The only tables that have turned is the amount of old men yelling at clouds who are being replaced by new generations of BMW owners that are perfectly happy that their new BMW doesn't look like a 20 year old BMW. Out with the old, in with the new.

[G30M]

they are the masters of copy, their methods are unprecendented - with BMW design, prices and touch screen HVAC I have a feeling my next car will be one of these

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia...w-cars-3436946

[Rux]

When you can steal tech and design without repercussions then sure, you get an advantage.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Rux

When you can steal tech and design without repercussions then sure, you get an advantage.

if you open a factory in China, what do you think will happen?

everything is there like an open book

blueprints, material, methodology, computers, even the robots that build the stuff are all there to be touched in person.

just pay the factory manager and get a master access card and login and away you go.

if you want you can even build another exact factory next door and make your own VBM

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Obviously you have never looked at a G29 Z4. It has beautiful lines and definitely not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity.

I accept your apology.

The new Z4 has really grown on me. As an owner of quite a few Z3Ms and Z4Ms over the years, first sight of the new Z4 didn't impress me. However, seeing them in person (along with the wonderful color of your vehicle) changed my mind. If I needed a fun little convertible now, I'd be looking for one in Thundernight metallic.

As for the rest of BMWs lineup, outside of the X5M and M5s which are still knockout gorgeous, the lineup is pretty horrid. The G80/82 disaster just looks worse and worse with time, and the G87 only looks representable in black.

Enjoy the Z4!

[Rux]

Originally Posted by g21

if you open a factory in China, what do you think will happen?

everything is there like an open book

blueprints, material, methodology, computers, even the robots that build the stuff are all there to be touched in person.

just pay the factory manager and get a master access card and login and away you go.

if you want you can even build another exact factory next door and make your own VBM

Oh I definitely agree with you. Blame falls across a wide swath of actors.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Obviously you have never looked at a G29 Z4. It has beautiful lines and definitely not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity.

Which is why the G29 will be discontinued and not live to see a next-generation model. BMW designers will not allow further production of cars that not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity. Not in their house!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

Which is why the G29 will be discontinued and not live to see a next-generation model. BMW designers will not allow further production of cars that not a horrendous gape-jawed insectoid monstrosity. Not in their house!

Get real, you know that this nothing to do with looks. Roadsters are a dying breed at the major auto makers as it is a matter of SUV’s dominating sales.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Get real, you know that this nothing to do with looks. Roadsters are a dying breed at the major auto makers as it is a matter of SUV’s dominating sales.

I think the 'get real' comment applies back to you. I was poking fun that BMW won't allow further production of good looking cars. I liked the looks of all generations of the Z4.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

I think the 'get real' comment applies back to you. I was poking fun that BMW won't allow further production of good looking cars. I liked the looks of all generations of the Z4.

Both of us liking the looks has nothing to do with sales and profits.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Murf the Surf

Given the track record of industrial spying the Chinese have I don't know how much credit I would give them for design.

How does spying on design actually work? As far as I know, designs are open for everyone to see. Unless you mean copying design in which case it would seem pretty obvious just by looking without spying.

I'm saying this because this China bashing sometimes goes too far and the unfortunate result is more hate crimes against Asians (not from China) continues unabated.