Chris Bangle quits BMW

[Ross]

So is BMW the equal or the inferior of MB currently in your opinion?

Since this thread is about styling I think my answer would be obvious, MB.
As far as others adopting the "Bangle" style, I believe lesser brands, especially the Asian marques, will copy whatever the prestige brands do. I wouldn't regard this a success or flattery of Mr. Bangles work. If MB or BMW were to carve a turd onto the hood you'd see this shape coming ashore from the Pacific shortly. The Hyundai Maybach is a perfect example.
BMW is well rid of Bangle. BlitzkriegBob said it best.

[Kibokojoe]

Polls show that newer BMW are less reliable. Internet is loaded with P'd off BMW owners gouged for huge dollar repairs for needless repairs. I personally like the one about the $500 dollar repair so a Bimmer dealer could get a key to work in an ignition. Ha and the guy had to wait a week and he was on the road out of town. Getting the ignition repaired, hotel room and meals probably cost him what I paided for my sons 735i

Glad I have my 89 535i rock solid, really enjoy driving it.

[Russell]

Adriaan Von Hooydonk, the new head of BMW design, was the real designer of the fourth generation seven series. Look for even more radical design on some BMW vehicles!

I understand that disagreement over project i (small city car) was part of the problem. Management and Hooydonk were on the winning side. Perhaps he was too conservative?

[repenttokyo]

Adriaan Von Hooydonk, the new head of BMW design, was the real designer of the fourth generation seven series. Look for even more radical design on some BMW vehicles!

they really blanded down the new 7 because they had alienated a large part of their buyer base.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Adriaan Von Hooydonk, the new head of BMW design, was the real designer of the fourth generation seven series. Look for even more radical design on some BMW vehicles!

At least it will be more fun to say "that BMW was all hooydonk'd"

or Ba donk a Hooydonk butt

Aaahh, he Hooydonk'd it.


eeeww, what's that smell? Uh, I think I stepped in some Hooydonk.

Oh, sh!t, that was a close call, I think I hooydonk'd my shorts.

[BMWDriver]

BMWs are still a luxury car, and they do look it. And they do have that modern look indeed. But, there are a lot of useless curves, especially with the front lights, on top of the bling chrome inside. And as far as the 5 series go, the side panels and doors after that look empty. It's like a half empty canvass. I'm really not sold on the 5.

I like the Z, 1 and 3 series better because there is something there at least. The 3 sedan ain't as good as the coupé. The doors are shorter on the two doors, which gives much less emptyness to the design.

Anyway. As far as Mercs go, I think some of them look even worse than BMW. I don't know their model lineup, but the biggest and most luxurious recent ones look like UFOs to me. Mercs are always grandpa's cars to me, even though they are powerful. The SLK and their equivalent of Z are probably the best looking ones to me, but you see the F1 connection they are making with the SLK (the nose), which is a real turnoff to me. They're selling an F1 car to you with that design.

The nicest designs on current manufactured cars in my view, are the Bentley coupés, and the Vanquish.

As a testament to most of our opinions here, when I watched Live Free or Die Hard, what sexy car have they brought as the rich, bad guy's ride ? A white e38 7 series with nice MPar wheels.

Bubble curves, bigger kidneys and no more front bumpers, that seems to be what's coming. If you want to "meet" Van Hookydonk, you can visit the 7 series highlights page on BMW.com and let him explain his team's design. (Won't show on BMW.ca, and probably other local BMW sites neither, because the newest 7 ain't available everywhere yet, it seems.)

[repenttokyo]

Oh, sh!t, that was a close call, I think I hooydonk'd my shorts.

we've all been there.

[Rick L]

YES! I’m tired of innovative design direction that ruined BMW design! I like to see something that captivates my eyes at first glance than trying to grow into it!!!

This should cause a stir...

http://www.autonews.com/article/2009...302039879/1144

[Mordan]

The press and the the old school bimmer faithful have complained about his design directions forever.

**** yea! I hate Chris Bangle's designs. they all suck.
but then I'm oldschool who loves rough edges and despises aerodynamic plastic crap.

[Russell]

**** yea! I hate Chris Bangle's designs. they all suck.
but then I'm oldschool who loves rough edges and despises aerodynamic plastic crap.

Well- rather strong wording. However, I also like my "old school e34".

I understand that Bangle may do non-automotive product design. Innovation is often more appreciated/understood there as product life is much shorter than most automobiles.