Head of Design Karim Habib Leaves BMW. Named Infiniti Design Chief

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by c63er

Not sure but is the x5 in the list ? If he did have a hand in that one I can't be the only person who thinks the current x5 is the best looking suv in bmw suv history and very close runner up to the Range Rover

No way, the E70 was the best looking X5. Current model looks weird without the appearance packages, especially the tail lights.

[BASELINE]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

Maybe some of you should apply for the job, see what you can design

I don't get paid to design cars, but if I had gone to school for it and spent 30 years of my life perfecting my trade I'd be fairly confident in doing exactly that.

I'm on the other side, I'm the client...so we are free to critique all we want.

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by mPlasticDesign

I agree. But then you'll have the Bangle cry babies who can't handle innovative design.

none of the cars bangle designed can be included in any conversation about great BMW designs but many can be included in ugly AF designs.
You are delusional if you think any of his designs was good looking.
Call me a cry baby all you like but I call it good taste.

[michal12]

That is big..

Anyone knows where is he going?

[Deluxx3]

Originally Posted by kevinlevrone

I am glad, to be honest. The latest models (like 7-series, 5-series, plus the ugly GT-series) are just too bland looking, some being outright ugly. BMW badly needs a fresh approach.

Bring back Chris Bangle !

Chris Bangle?? More like Chris Bland...

[farns2345]

Looks are all subjective...so here's a few of my opinions: a) the 6 series grand coupe is NOT a nice looking car. The A7 is a nice looking coupe-like sedan. b) The M2 looks nice from the front and the side, albeit a bit stumpy, but the back has issues - same with the rest of the 2 series. c) the previous generation 5 series was a nice looking car, the G30 5 series is even better.

Lastly it's nice to see people commenting on how poor a job that this guy did or Chris Bangle did, but keep in mind these guys were hired by one of the strongest companies/ brands in the world and last time I checked BMW sales continue to increase so they must have done something right.

[Sassicaia]

Frankly the only people qualified to critique the design of these cars are the people who are potentially considering to buy one. If you have to go to school to be a designer in order to appreciate the current BMW look then they should have fired the guy long ago.

I for one am happy this guy is gone because BMW has moved away from looking unique and has diluted itself to look like everything else on the street. There is one caveat with the M devision. I think all the M cars look great.

[nemex12]

Originally Posted by YungDro

No he designed the CLS. Karim Habib will go down as a legendary designer he made the 6 series. the most beautiful bmw ever made.

I could argue but I'm just lazy

[nemex12]

Originally Posted by 440xiGCMsport

none of the cars bangle designed can be included in any conversation about great BMW designs but many can be included in ugly AF designs.
You are delusional if you think any of his designs was good looking.
Call me a cry baby all you like but I call it good taste.

if Bangle designed the e46 m3 and z4 e85 I think he did a fairly good job. one is an instant classic designwise and the other was very innovative

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by nemex12

if Bangle designed the e46 m3 and z4 e85 I think he did a fairly good job. one is an instant classic designwise and the other was very innovative

e46 was designed by Eric Goplen. z4 e85 he did. The Z4 I like but he messed up everything else.

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by BASELINE

I don't get paid to design cars, but if I had gone to school for it and spent 30 years of my life perfecting my trade I'd be fairly confident in doing exactly that.

I'm on the other side, I'm the client...so we are free to critique all we want.

I didn't say you weren't

[sakson]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Sad, but hopefully the new head of design will have BMW move away from their conservatism and create more exciting looking models...

Then it's not sad.

[polly]

I get the feeling that there is a lot of racism in between the words on this thread.
I bet that if the designers last name was smith this thread would have took a different direction. imagine saying bangle was a better designer, what a joke.
it's such a shame to have so much racist coming from a country they think is first world, now that's a shame.

[Gamb1t]

I find the current crop of Bimmers seem to have this bulbous fish head look. The rears are ok. That dogbone front fender is too weird for me. Maybe it's their way to encourage buyers to pony up for the M package bumpers.

I remember those Chris Bangle "flame" designs. Worse of all were the e60s "I Like Big Butt and I Don't Know Why" style.

Everyone's a critic I guess. Must say the MB, Mazda and Audi have been kicking butt in terms of exterior aesthetics.

[desertfox73]

Well, if this is the guy who designed (or approved) the X7 thingy that showed up on Bimmerpost's holiday card, I think we're safe.

[Zirenz2006]

Originally Posted by polly

I get the feeling that there is a lot of racism in between the words on this thread.
I bet that if the designers last name was smith this thread would have took a different direction. imagine saying bangle was a better designer, what a joke.
it's such a shame to have so much racist coming from a country they think is first world, now that's a shame.

it's such a shame to have such a presumption coming from one post

[cc3]

Good news !! Now we might see some better design BMW have lost their way

[khanyam4]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

Maybe some of you should apply for the job, see what you can design

Thanks for keeping it one hundred.

[WestBankM4]

I'd like to imagine that Karim got fed up with his design team, he's definitely known for pretty imaginative/conservative designs that aren't about "LOOK, LOOK AT ME", rather subtle and special for those that know.

After he submits his work, the design team cuts it to pieces and pulls what they think are the best parts. I'm pretty sure he just got fed up with their edits or being held back to a degree that he just said, "f*** this".

Never forget his late 90's 7'er design which EVERYONE in Germany took and ran with, also his 6-series, what a masterpiece indeed.

P.S. I love his Fxx design, best looking 3/4 series since the inception. Every single angle is beautiful, there's literally not a single angle the cars look bad, all the way down to the 320i.

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by polly

I get the feeling that there is a lot of racism in between the words on this thread.
I bet that if the designers last name was smith this thread would have took a different direction. imagine saying bangle was a better designer, what a joke.
it's such a shame to have so much racist coming from a country they think is first world, now that's a shame.

If I ever have to paint the side of an enormous barn, I'll have to remember to hit you up for your brush.

[YungDro]

thread closed....

[///BYU]

Originally Posted by SROC5

they need to pirate Andreas Preuninger,

I think he'd be great as the head of BMW ///M or even BMW AG, but I'm guessing he'd readily admit to not being a good candidate for head of BMW design since he's not a designer, but an engineer.

Also, I was thinking about whether I'd want Andreas Preuninger to join BMW. I love BMW, but I'm first and foremost an all-automobiles-not-just-BMW-enthusiast and I think I love him right where he is doing amazing things for Porsche. I think he's my favorite guy in the car industry right now.

-------------

As for Karim Habib, I really like the current designs coming out of BMW, so I wish him the very best and hope BMW finds an excellent replacement.

I also think it's hard (for me, at least) to really judge a designer's legacy until 10+ years from now, when we can look back to see whether his or her designs achieve "timeless" status. People might like or dislike his designs (a matter of personal preference), but I think it's too early to write the final chapter on Karim Habib's overall impact and contribution to BMW and automotive design.