Chief of Design Chris Bangle leaves BMW

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by methodtim

I liked Bangle's work. His replacement, van Hooydonk, has a lot of the same aesthetic tastes, so it's not like BMW is going back to Bauhaus boxy any time soon.

+1

[skim7x]

another article on it...
http://jalopnik.com/5145161/chris-ba...uto-industry#c

[RMA]

Ever since the E30 was squashed then

[adc]

I think he should burn in a surface flame in design hell.

[DougLikesBMW]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

I'm sad to see Bangle leave. Fortunately, I think AVH is a more capable design leader when it comes down to the aesthetics themselves. I like his toned down version of Chris's flame surfacing language.

The e92 was overseen by AVH, but he didn't design the car directly.

+1

[Sticky]

The guy designed the E46, for that I can forgive the 5 series and 6 series.

[FStop7]

Yeah I wouldn't celebrate just yet considering Van Hooydonk is the one who did the actual design and sculpting of most of the "meh" BMW models, including the 6 and 7 series.

[darkphantom]

lol, I don't whether to celebrate or sob?

The New Z4 is sexy!

[moog55]

Originally Posted by Sticky

The guy designed the E46, for that I can forgive the 5 series and 6 series.

+1

[1º]

many people hated his designs, yet MANY people still bought the cars

i personally hated the 7 when it first came out, but it quickly grew on me and i loved it. the 6 series never grew on me and i think it was one of the worst BMW has produced. The 5 was incredible imo and as of now i dont like where the next gen is heading.

[methodtim]

Looks like Bangle may have quit after losing a power struggle...

http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/02/03/mo...s-resignation/

As promised, we’re back with some new information regarding Bangle’s departure from BMW, the reasons behind it and how will this impact BMW and future designs.

As we might have hinted earlier, lately it has been an internal fight, argument if you would like to call it, about the future of some BMW projects. Apparently, the Project i is the one that divided the designers and the board. Mr. Bangle’s idea did not coincide with his protege, Adrian Von Hooydonk, and BMW’s Chief of Research & Development, Dr. Draeger, and CEO, Reithofer, who is directly responsible for the Project i.



Bangle’s ideas were denied and felt marginalized since other people in is design department didn’t quite support him. This conflict pushed him to resign from BMW since he couldn’t take responsibility for the design strategy chosen by other people.

The Board of Directors tried to convince Bangle to stay on board and alternative positions were offered to him, including the Design Director of the U.S based, DesignworksUSA. Bangle turned down the offers but he will still cooperate at some level with BMW, mainly on non-automotive projects, most likely in the Designworks team. Sources say that he might be involved in some interior design projects, but probably too early to know for sure.

Adrian Von Hooydonk will be the replacement and will be involved in the Project i, which has been “greenlighted” by the Board. Regarding Project i , the fight was about whether to introduce a new brand and design, or to introduce the new vehicles under BMW or MINI brand.

As we know, BMW design language and strategy is set in motion years before the models hit the showrooms, so there will not be an immediate change in the BMW, MINI or Rolls-Royce designs. The first post-Bangle era design will be seen in 6-7 years, in one of the new BMWs.

So ….very unexpectedly the Bangle-era has ended at BMW AG. Ironically the advertised “New Era” has at least officially arrived: the company is going through a huge economic crisis, Chris Bangle resigns after many years with the company, the new M models are going turbo and overall, the BMW brand is repositioning itself…a “New Era” indeed.

As an ending point, it is worth mentioning that Von Hooydonk’s ideas on all the design languages was and is very in sync with Bangle views, Project i being the exception.

Who was right or wrong? Time will tell…..

[d_crome]

Maybe he's off to work for Hyundai where he belongs.

[MCMLXXXIX]

old news

Originally Posted by d_crome

Maybe he's off to work for Hyundai where he belongs.

hes not going anywhere sorry. hes moved UP

[kmarei]

to give the guy some credit
he certainly makes distinctive designs
but as for pretty designs i would disagree
when was the last time you heard people using your name to imply the shape of a car is bad?
to 'bangle' a design
when was the last time there was controversy over an Alfa Romeo design not looking good?
and the majority of his peers think he went too far with his flame surfacing
and i would even venture that BMW managment thought so too
which is why the 3 is the least bangled design since its their biggest money maker

at least according to this article his designs will only last till 2010
so the end is near
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/au...bangles_l.html

bottom line is if you are judging purely by design
what would you choose, based on looks?
an Alfa-Romeo 159, an Audi A5, or a E90?

[c0nstant]

meh, im not upset, but im not fapping about it either

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by kmarei

to give the guy some credit
he certainly makes distinctive designs
but as for pretty designs i would disagree
when was the last time you heard people using your name to imply the shape of a car is bad?
to 'bangle' a design
when was the last time there was controversy over an Alfa Romeo design not looking good?
and the majority of his peers think he went too far with his flame surfacing
and i would even venture that BMW managment thought so too
which is why the 3 is the least bangled design since its their biggest money maker

at least according to this article his designs will only last till 2010
so the end is near
http://www.businessweek.com/autos/au...bangles_l.html

bottom line is if you are judging purely by design
what would you choose, based on looks?
an Alfa-Romeo 159, an Audi A5, or a E90?

...Umm...the E92/90. The AR is ugly, the A5 looks good, but the E9X looks great.

[uthatch]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

...Umm...the E92/90. The AR is ugly, the A5 looks good, but the E9X looks great.

Yup, me too. I don't love an E90, but I do love the E92. And I sure don't like the Alfa and most of the new Audi's bore me.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by BzzzBom

Great news for BMW enthusiasts

Originally Posted by adc

I think he should burn in a surface flame in design hell.

Originally Posted by d_crome

Maybe he's off to work for Hyundai where he belongs.

lets all jump on the hate bandwagon

[ak47firepower]

I think Bangle ran his course. One thing you have to give him was that he wasn't afraid to try something new and be controversial. Unlike most major manufacturers who were pretty damn cookie cutter. With the foreseeable recession don't expect any outlandish designs though.

[hummermaniac88]

About time, cause man I like the E46 better than E9X. E9X does not have the aggressive looks stock...And the 1 looks like a reatrded dog lol...But I do like them cause their nice parts and what not for them...

[ersin]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Adrian and Chris Bangle worked together on the designs. Bangle has been with the company's design team ever since the E46 was released, which is why I find it silly that people criticize him so much (..because everybody loooovveesss the E46........"now!!"). I believe Adrian penned the 3, 5 and 7 series cars.
Word!

He may have been with BMW when the E46 was released but I believe others were responsible for the E46 design. By the time he arrived, the E46 had already been finished and Bangle was starting on future models.

They said that the new BMW designs will "grow on you". I get worried when I have growths on me. Anyway, I still like the older models much better than the new with one exception -- the Z4 coupe is gorgeous.

Now that he's leaving, I have a few questions. Who are we going to pick on? Will we need to replace the term "Bangled" with "Hooydonked"? And how is that pronounced? Hoy-donk? Hoo-donk? Hoo-ee-donk? Hoe-donk? (Forgive me for Bangling his name. I'm still in shock from the news.)

[E90330iS]

yay