Bye Bye Bangle!
 

http://jalopnik.com/5145161/chris-ba...-auto-industry

http://www.motorauthority.com/bmw-de...-industry.html

http://www.autonews.com/article/2009...902039987/1144

:woohoo:

Some real ugly designs for sure - Which designs are the ones that people generally like and give him credit for? Outside of the debatable butts?

IDK, I like my E90... The other cars need ass-lifts, stat.

It seems some of his remnants still remain so not sure if there will be any deviation from his designs for future cycles.

This was coming and known in inner circles. Adrian van Hooydonk is perfectly suited for the job.

BTW, E53 X5 was designed by Bangle and so were X3, Z3, Z4, Z8, and X6 and 1-series were also under his supervision among others.

Thanks.

There you go then - I like his E53 design. Sorry to see him go then and wish him well.

Imo, "futurists", those designers, thinkers and dreamers that go way beyond the usual box,
are often held up for very close scrutiny and criticism...

I feel Bangle was "out there", but good for BMW. If his stuff really met with derision in the
marketplace, few would have bought his designs and the other car mfg'ers would not have
lined up so quickly to cop his angles and mimic his work. My 50cts...
BR,mD

Full press release:

A TRUSTED TEAM: CHRISTOPHER BANGLE HANDS OVER HIS POST AS HEAD OF DESIGN AT THE BMW GROUP TO ADRIAN VAN HOOYDONK

02/03/2009

Munich. Christopher E. Bangle, the BMW Group's Head of Design, has worked closely with Adrian van Hooydonk in BMW Group design development for nearly17 years. Now he is handing over his post to van Hooydonk, who is currently Head of BMW Automobile Design. "Christopher Bangle has had a lasting impact on the identity of BMW Group's brands. His contribution to the company's success has been decisive, and together with his teams he has mapped out a clear and aesthetic route into the future," said Dr Klaus Draeger, BMW AG's Board Member for Development. Dr Draeger went on to explain that the BMW Group was currently "in an excellent position", thanks to a broad portfolio of automobiles and several new vehicle concepts due for market launch in the coming months and years. The BMW AG Management Board, he added, is looking forward to working with van Hooydonk as Head of BMW Group Design - a man who shares Bangle's fascination for technology and aesthetics, tradition and innovation. Dr Draeger affirmed that van Hooydonk would be in a position to continue to build on a design philosophy, which extends across the BMW Group's brands. Bangle's plan to pursue his own design-related endeavours beyond the auto industry marks the start of a new phase in his life while maintaining strong ties with the BMW Group.

Over the years numerous designs for new vehicles and vehicle concepts have been developed under Christopher Bangle's leadership. As well as continuing the BMW 3, 5 and 7 Series, he and his teams were responsible for a range of other models, including the BMW Z3, BMW Z4, BMW X5, BMW Z8, BMW X3, the new BMW 6 Series, the BMW X6 and the BMW 1 Series. Other developments under the auspices of Christopher Bangle include the new MINI and Rolls-Royce models and a number of innovative motorcycle concepts. During his tenure, Christopher Bangle was also instrumental in making the company's consultancy subsidiary, BMW Group DesignworksUSA, what it is today: a global design agency in North America, Munich and Singapore for leading international brands and companies in a wide variety of industries.

Thanks to their outstanding design quality numerous products from all three of the BMW Group's automobile brands have won a host of renowned awards from around the world. Bangle has always had a special aptitude for working with his teams to strengthen the identities and unmistakable images of the BMW Group's brands and to inspire design innovations, said Dr Draeger, Board Member for Development. Over the years he has received a dozen patents for his technical applications and design. These, along with the one hundred additional patents awarded to the BMW Group Design under Bangle's auspices, are a testimony to his creative and innovative power.

Born in the USA, Christopher Bangle, aged 52, has been Head of BMW Group Design Development since October 1992. After studying at the University of Wisconsin and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he began his working life in Rüsselsheim, where he worked for Adam Opel AG. In 1985 he joined FIAT, where he became Director of the FIAT Centro Stile in 1992. Shortly afterwards he left the Italian automaker to come to Munich.

Throughout his career with the BMW Group Bangle's right-hand man has been Adrian van Hooydonk, who is now set to become his successor. He described van Hooydonk as "truly a top professional in our business," adding, "I am sure that the many strong design strategies he has helped us create for the BMW Group will continue to develop and evolve."

Adrian van Hooydonk, aged 44, will take over as Director of BMW Group Design with immediate effect. In his new position he will be responsible for design development for the BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI brands. Born in the Netherlands, van Hooydonk studied at Delft Polytechnic University in Holland and later at the Art Center Europe in Vevey, Switzerland, until 1992. From there he came to Munich, where he joined BMW as a designer. In the year 2000 he went to California to work for the BMW Group subsidiary Designworks USA. He was Director of the internationally renowned design agency from 2001 to 2004. Then, under Bangle as the BMW Group's Head of Design, he became Head of the Brand Design Studio for BMW Automobiles.

The BMW 6 Series and 7 Series lines clearly bear the hallmark of van Hooydonk's design influence, as do the Z9 Concept Car, the BMW Concept CS (unveiled in 2007) and the M1 Hommage Study. In 1997 van Hooydonk created the ACV 30 Show Car for MINI and more recently he and his team have developed the designs for the new BMW 7 Series and Z4 as well as for the Concept Progressive Activity Sedan, which celebrates its premiere at the Geneva Auto Show in early March 2009.

"I am honoured and extremely excited to take on this new responsibility", says van Hooydonk. "BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce produce the best cars and motorcycles in their segment, and I am really looking forward to being able to contribute to the future development of these brands." Speaking of his hopes for the years to come, van Hooydonk added: "I have no doubt that there are challenges ahead, but BMW's depth in engineering and the passion of its talented design team are as strong as ever. Together I am sure we will be able to create some very sophisticated and extremely attractive concepts."

Yay! Let us have a party to celebrate the occasion.:bounce:

The 7er already looks decent.

I have learned this MANY times.
the devil you have may be better than the devil you get.

I think he had a positive and lasting effect on BMW. Look at what unit sales growth has been during his tenure.

Too many are bashing him for pushing the envelope a little, IMO. If you want everything to keep looking like an E39, fine, but BMW would be in trouble (or broke) if they had followed that path.

Bangle butt has been copied by several others including MB and Lexus. ;)

But he left because of difference of opinion with CEO and board.

Chris Bangle is leaving BMW to pursue other design work
 

I hope the new design will be better look than it is.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/upto...-bids-adi.html

Comments
I thought the Z4 Swoop looked great, Dan. And the Bangle Butt is a lot better looking than yours.

Posted by: P H D | February 03, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Really, Chris Bangle styled my 1996 E39? That was my fourth - and last - BMW. I thought that model was as elegant as the subsequent model was Miami Vice. I drive an XJ now, as I've quit my coke habit.

Posted by: Dimitri | February 03, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Resentment towards Chris Bangle derives mostly from the fact that he never seemed interested in oil, gas and combustion, and instead talked a lot about 'design vocabulary'. Perhaps he'll be more passionate about designing carrot peelers for Target, or post-modernist housing for very special pets.

CG Stuart

Posted by: CG Stuart | February 03, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Good riddance.

Unfortunately, neither BMW nor Daimler seem to have a clean and simple design.

Posted by: Peter M | February 03, 2009 at 05:17 PM
See ya, Chris, and don't let the door hit your Bangle Butt on the way out.

The Bangled BMWs are among the ugliest of any cars ever designed.

I am glad I drive an E46 M3: the last of the classic looking BMWs.

Posted by: Jim | February 03, 2009 at 09:09 PM

I like some of the designs Bangle supervised, and I hate some of them with a passion. In the end though I think that, love or hate, his designs were always interesting and that put him and BMW ahead of the rest. If Bangle hadn't been there to push the envelope I dread to think how boring cars of today would have been.

Case in point - If I wasn't able to piss and moan about how the new 7 looks like a hideous whale trawling for plankton, Bangle would have failed because it would have 'just been another car' otherwise and thats far worse than being ugly.

For that I would hope that people would stop bashing him - just think of the alternative.

:iagree: Maybe some designs weren't the best but it's good to see change through out the line. His designs always took time for me to start liking but after a bit I fell in love with almost all of them.

Interesting article on Bangle's work.
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6463773/...ary/index.html

Did Bangle have anything to do with the Range Rover Sport design, before Land Rover was sold to Ford? I believe the concept (Stormer - my avi) appeared in 2004 but the company was sold in 2000.

Bush out of office
Bangle out of BMW

...the gods are listening

damnit. Don't you guys know Bangle came directly to x5world to bask in the glory of Bangle fans?

I just hope they bring the 7 back into reality. it's getting there...

I don't mean to make such a ridiculous analogy, but here goes:

I can still remember seeing the first spy shots of the first Bangleized 7er back in 2000(?). I couldn't believe my eyes. Didn't like it.

Then when the 6er came out ....... i was mortified.

Now look at me: I own -- AND LOVE! -- my 6er.

Point? I think Bangle may be to BMW what Bach was to Baroque-era music. Honestly, the more time goes by, the more I think Bangle's new generation BMWs look better and better. Even with my own 6: I've had it nearly 1 year now, and every time I'm at a cafe and see it parked outside, I just stare and admire it more and more.

Simply put? Bangle was ahead of his time. I think his designs will one day be appreciated as really something quite special indeed.

:iagree: Pretty well said.

I just hope Adrian van Hooydonk, has what it takes.

Bangle sure did know what he was doing & designing.

Only controversial model being the E65, but hey I just loved it & so did, so many others.

Long Live Bangle, where-ever he goes.

People are slow to accept change.

He made changes that are only now being accepted.

The Bangle-butt debates were akin to the debates about pop-up vs. fixed headlights on the C5's vs C6 Vettes.

It's good and bad. Don't forget that Adrian van Hooydonk was responsible for the 7 series redesign in 2002, which was still plenty ugly.