This story comes (quite bastardized, I should think) through my b/f who read in Car & Driver that Chris Bangle, having been put in charge of BMW group design, will now be the offical sign-off person for all MINI design changes, as well. I'd look up the article, but I just done't have the initiative...

Hood creases, anyone?

 

>>Hood creases, anyone?

Yeah, and some really, um, "imteresting" rear end treatments (think 7-series)...lol

 

Is that so? I read in Automobile that Chris Bangle has been fired by BMW for obvious reasons.

 

^^ Oh my... now there's a conflicting story! Zamirz, I hope you're right! Hood creases, side creases and um.... yeah, I think "interesting" is a good way to put it... backsides on the MINI make me very, very sad...

 

OmToast, for our own sake I hope I (or rather, Automobile magazine) is right too :smile:

 

I heard that Bangle was promoted, but if he got fired, I'm throwing a party!

 

Guess I'm the only one who likes Bangles work. I am in love with the Z4 and estatic for the release of the 2 and 4 Series. With his leadership, BMW has put out a design language that is new and fresh...and controversal. But when is change not controversal? No one can deny that BMW has their own look, and I admire that. Not a big fan? Lexus has some great cars for you

That said, MINI needs to maintain their own look and his design language shouldn't continue into MINI design. That would be a mistake and I'm sure they're smart enought to figure that out. I hope.

_________________
2002 MINI Cooper S - Electirc Blue/White - Stock
<p>
Buy adidas.

 

I got a new Automobile magazine with a picture of a black 6 series BMW coupe. The thing is absolutely gorgeous, Bangled trunk and all.

R.E.

 

The new BMW cars are just plain awesome. Is it so wrong for their cars to look different than all the other crap on the road? Isn't that part of the reason we buy MINIs?

I love the Z4, and all the other stuff they're doing.

 

The Aztek looks different, too.

 

So does the Scion. Different should not automatically be equated with good. Bangle scares me.

 

He got promoted to a higher position in design, which also means that his hand won't be as influential in the design process. So its good for us.

 

One word for his designs..Bravo! Yes, I am being sarcastic.

 

I was reading in Evo or CAR that he was actually getting promoted so he doesn't have hands on in the actual designs of the car, but I'm not sure. I guess that's sort of like firing him . I love the Z4, regardless.

 

good:



bad:

 

XAlfa:

That's not fair!

 

I like the Z4, its a bit underpowered but I like it.

I like the Scion too! :smile:

 

With all your due respect to the "Bangle admirers" in these boards, you need to get your eyes and heads checked and pronto!


Really, c'mmon.....Bangle has been an absolute disgrace to BMW, is tarnishing the image of the brand and running its reputation for timeless designs to the ground.


"Controversial" cars designs simply don't work in the cut throat automotive business. We have seen many glaring exhibits of such misguided design philosophies in the Ford Edsel, the AMC Pacer, the Cadillac Cimarron, the Pontiac Aztek, The current BMW 7 series and so and so forth. Bangle "believes" that good design is a matter of people getting "used to" ugly and controversial shapes.....WTF?????


This guy has been smoking too much green grass for so long and if BMW execs care about the long term standing of the company in the automotive stable, they need to get rid of him...plain and simple.


Bangle is a brilliant and smart man, but totally misguided and lost in his weirdo dreams of designs of lights and incoherent lines...wake up people this guy is bringing down BMW down the toilet!!!!

The only reason why the MINI is the only good looking BMW left is because it was not designed by Bangle (Frank Stephenson designed the current MINI, another American auto designer, now working for Ferrari) plain and simple.


The new BMW 6 is decent until you get to that hideous hunchback 1980's trunklid. Oh and the BMW 6 convertible looks exactly like a Chrysler Sebring convertible...what a shame.



I think Bangle loves the worst of Pontiac and Chrysler designs morphed into what he thinks a BMW should look like...gimme a freaking break!

Chris Bangle should be designing cars for Hollywood movies.....how about Judge Dredd #2 and Batman #5????

 

>>good:
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>>[img]<http://www.carangasnervosas.hpg.ig.com.br/bmw_507.jpg>[/img]
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>>bad:
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>>[img]<http://www.libero.co.kr/upload/tmc_psd/bmw-z4.jpg>[/img]

respectfully disagree.

...and the whole contention that the MINI will suddenly start looking like the 3, 5, 6, or 7 series is ridiculous. They are different brands with different design languages and different futures.

as mentioned previously the new MINI was originally designed by Frank Stephenson who was under the guidance of Chris Bangle. Mr. Stephenson also designed the original X5 and is currently the design director at Ferrari (Ferrari's first).

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Frank Stephenson had control over the design of what it was going to become the next MINI. I cringe to think how the car would have turned out to be if Bangle had total control over the drawings of the MINI.


If it hadn't been for Stephenson, who knows what kind of contraption bangle would have put out the door.

 

>>Frank Stephenson had control over the design of what it was going to become the next MINI. I cringe to think how the car would >>have turned out to be if Bangle had total control over the drawings of the MINI.


BMW, by principle, doesn't adhere the same principles across the board. It's dependent on product and what's each design is intended to evoke. This has been corporate design policy for years. For instance the Z8 (design overseen by Bangle) was created with it's own unique design language independent of cars like the current 3 series which were in development at roughly the same time.

We have nothing to worry about with the next MINI. It will not look like a BMW period. BMW and it's designers have done brilliant work on the MINI and it's brand over the last 10 years - the idea that they would regress that work and brand is a bit far-fetched. They will continue progressing the brand and I'm sure we'll all be here in 2 years talking about how cool the new MINI is.

 

I don't know who this "Bangle" fellow is, but let me add my (albeit unpopular) $.02

I think the Z4 isn't bad. I think the Z8 is pretty hot. I think the 6 series is ugly, although my boyfriend loves it. I think the ONE (or whatever it's gonna be called) is gorgeous. Whoever's in charge of it all, BMW is making some new and of course controversial changes. I don't think they'll loose much business over it.

 

Agreed..using P.T. Barnum's saying, A sucker is..oh never mind..!

BTW, I love those Dame Edna eyes they use on the 7 series.

 

>>>>good:
>>>>
>>>>

 

To each their own. BMW thinks Bangle is a design genius and he is ahead of his times. For BMW's sake, I hope so. For the rest of us, hang onto your MINI as it will be worth a lot more if the future looks like Bangle's dreams.