Chris Bangle styling starting to grow on me

[bnz2bimmer]

I see it !..

I have to say, as a long time benz owner, when the first bangle designs came out , I made a lot of fun out of them comparing them to hyundias and the fameous bangle butt of the 7 series
but as time when on, It started to actually grow on me, the current e-class isvery conservatively styled, but doesn't stand out much and doesn't look expensive even though its 50K car , it could be a 15k honda for all their concerned..
Bangle's designs they stand out, scream expensive, the old stody conservative designs MB puts out year after year are boring...the X5 looks awesome too.

I'd have to say, that BMW did make a good decision in hiring bangle, even though it looked different back then, I think this is where BMW styling looks good
so what do you think about Bangle?

[bozo]

Originally Posted by bnz2bimmer

Bangle's designs they stand out, scream expensive, the old stody conservative designs MB puts out year after year are boring...the X5 looks awesome too.

That was the whole point I think...They wanted a new direction, and by golly they got it...Everyone flamed him in the beginning..But I fell in love with the e60 the first time I saw the spy pics...Still not a huge fan of the new 6er's, but thats probably because Ive only seen a handful of them in person...

[LeMansX5]

MB actually copied the bangle butt in the new S-class.

[jwilburn]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

MB actually copied the bangle butt in the new S-class.

Oh I noticed that too! I thought it was funny. BMW gets all this flack about it but then MB tries it. I cant remember, do the Maybachs have that as well?

[Driver8]

The new Lexus LS did too. It seems to be catching...

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

MB actually copied the bangle butt in the new S-class.

[Driver8]

I think there two converging concepts here:

One, people are starting to become accustomed to the swoopy mix of convex and concave "flame" surfaces, the multipurpose character lines and the embellished overdesign on items such as E60 headlights and the Bangle butt.

Two, I think Bangle defined the boundaries and is now working his way inward. Where the design is now (E90, E70) is really right, with equal parts traditional BMW cues (Hofmeister kink, understated elegance) and Neu/Bangle look (sharp crease lines, convex/concave surfaces).

The upcoming E70 is just incredible to my eyes, everything is just right. I hated the New 7-series when it came out and I still feel it's ugly as ever...and time is no friend of its design, either. Those headlights and trunk are as hideous now, IMO, as they were on Day One. The 5-series was better, and the new 3-series better yet. I think the E70 hit the nail on the head. And yes, as someone else pointed out, MB is definitely playing catch up in terms of design.

[jwilburn]

I think you are right. It will be very interesting to see what time does to the new 7's. The 5 is good overall, and the new 3's are much much better than the last in my eyes. I think he did well with keeping the BMW design history yet modernizing it as well. No one can still touch the BMW "hockey-stick" c-pillars, that other cars so try to immitate.

However I dont think MB is playing catch up so much. They are just a different breed of car all together. Its meant to be more stately, almost stoic. Only the roadsters have the flash to them, and I think the SL's are right on for that.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Driver8

I think there two converging concepts here:

One, people are starting to become accustomed to the swoopy mix of convex and concave "flame" surfaces, the multipurpose character lines and the embellished overdesign on items such as E60 headlights and the Bangle butt.

Two, I think Bangle defined the boundaries and is now working his way inward. Where the design is now (E90, E70) is really right, with equal parts traditional BMW cues (Hofmeister kink, understated elegance) and Neu/Bangle look (sharp crease lines, convex/concave surfaces).

The upcoming E70 is just incredible to my eyes, everything is just right. I hated the New 7-series when it came out and I still feel it's ugly as ever...and time is no friend of its design, either. Those headlights and trunk are as hideous now, IMO, as they were on Day One. The 5-series was better, and the new 3-series better yet. I think the E70 hit the nail on the head. And yes, as someone else pointed out, MB is definitely playing catch up in terms of design.

with all of that.

I didn't like the first new 7 series, but the ones since are fine. I like Bangles style enough that I bought a Z4, which pushed the limits of flame surfacing when it came out. I like the motto of DED: No Boring Cars.

[Kewl X5]

Ahhh, the E53 X5 is also a Chris Bangle design and so was the E46 3-series!!

You can see some of the early, mild "flame-surfacing" on side of our E53 X5 (nothing as prominent as the Z4).

Thus, the E70 was really just an evolution of Chris Bangle's earlier design of the E53 X5.

Originally Posted by bnz2bimmer

I see it !..

I have to say, as a long time benz owner, when the first bangle designs came out , I made a lot of fun out of them comparing them to hyundias and the fameous bangle butt of the 7 series
but as time when on, It started to actually grow on me, the current e-class isvery conservatively styled, but doesn't stand out much and doesn't look expensive even though its 50K car , it could be a 15k honda for all their concerned..
Bangle's designs they stand out, scream expensive, the old stody conservative designs MB puts out year after year are boring...the X5 looks awesome too.

I'd have to say, that BMW did make a good decision in hiring bangle, even though it looked different back then, I think this is where BMW styling looks good
so what do you think about Bangle?

[eldavo69]

Personally I think it all went downhill for the bangles after the release of "eternal flame" !!!

Disco