Chris Bangle: Misunderstood & Discredited / Chris Bangle: The Steve Jobs of Modern Car Design....

[K-A]

I got to thinking about this subject, and being that I've already been crowned the "Resident GCF BMW Fanboy", wanted to formally introduce myself.

It started when I was arguing this topic with a guy on the BMW Boards a while back. He REFUSED to believe that Chris Bangle "Designed" his beloved F10 ("THERE'S NO WAY CHRIS BANGLE COULD DESIGN THIS BEAUTIFUL CAR" was the gist). Chris Bangle, the man who "Designed" the E65 and E60 abominations (Chris didn't "Design" any of them, he captained over others who did, and from what I understand, the guy who designed the E60's quirky butt and/or entire exterior is deceased. RIP).... no way, right?

Adrian Von Hooydonk got to stand over the then-newly-launched F10, as if it was all orchestrated for him to appear as the man responsible for "correcting Bangle's work", as the "savior" (or so you'd believe if you read Message Boards).

The reality is this: Chris Bangle took over BMW design, and took no time to completely ruin every beautiful thing the brand had done before, design wise. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing: Controversy for the sake of it / No care about timeless virtues / Who cares if it even looks "GOOD" / Let's shake sh*t up.

And he did just that.

Following that revolutionary stage was what set the tone for car design for years to come. To this day, every Asian manufacturer has copied and exploited his work (ad nausea). While Mercedes-Benz designers run around like chickens with their heads cut off to try and be the "Bangle-Era of now", Bangle was almost a decade ahead of them, and he moved on by the time they started doing exactly what he did that decade ago (controversy, fussiness, then later "Proportionally Driven Designs" of which Mercedes is apparently starting with the W222 S-Class.... something BMW started already with the F01 7-Series). Like it or not; BMW's rapid rise in market share and sales momentum is very much tied to that.

Which leads us into more current times. What did Bangle do, just as every automotive manufacturer in the world started desperately trying to out-BMW-BMW? He showed the world that he can do EXACTLY what they asked him for from the get-go: Design TRUE BMW's, focus on pure elegance, simply beautiful, proportionally driven, graceful yet sporty, and "sensical" TIMELESS virtues. It started with the F01 in which I remember reading he sent Karim Habib to Italy to study "Italian Coachwork", and it evolved into the F10, and still spilled into the F12/F13, etc.

Yes, while everybody else was trying to do what he did a decade ago, he moved on and showed the world that he can do what nobody who's massacred his name thought he could: Do beauty, and do beauty damn right. He answered calls to bring back the patented BMW finesse, the balanced work, the lean smoothness, the ageless virtues, the style>fashion characteristics, and even some still criticized ("boring"). The spirit of the E39/E46/E39 were brought back in one swift move.

So why is he "misunderstood"? Because he gets no credit for resolving his own generational designs, or for his master plan: THROW BMW on the map by riling up the people, the presses.... then wasting no time into correcting his own work and re-employing the initial BMW vision. Of course, there are still some strong misstep designs sitting in BMW showrooms, but I'm focusing on general core design idiom here.

Insiders on Message boards such as "ENI" and/or "SCOTT" have mentioned how personable and passionate Bangle is. How "human" he is. You can see in interview video's how passionately he waxes poetic and theorizes design, how he speaks about it sometimes as if he's merely an observer, not an expert. Mr. Von Hooydonk, for example is said to be of a far more clinical approach.

Let's not forget the cars within the BMW umbrella designed under Bangle's tutelage: The Rolls Royce lineup (Phantom, Ghost, etc.), the great re-representation of Mini, etc.

Bangle came, conquered design in one form, and then did what any great revolutionary does after: Conquer again, in another form. Then what did he do? Retired (or quit? Got fired?), letting someone else take the credit for undoing his own previous work.

And that is why I feel that Chris Bangle is the Steve Jobs of Modern Automotive Design.

 

[Top Secret]

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

 

[Wunderkind]

NO, JUST NO!

End of Topic.

 

[K-A]

NO, JUST NO!

End of Topic.

Which part?

This is the whole point. Is his name tarnished because the initial models he designed are so bad no matter what he did thereafter is enough to redeem him?

So should he not get credit for replacing them with the perfect antidote, a'la the current BMW design idiom? Or are the current models not strong enough even to lift his name out of the rut the E65/E60 gen put him in?

What I don't get is how people's view of him is so narrowed.

 

[Human]

Watching the programme/documentary on CNBC - BMW: A Driving Obsession, the general view of his vision and prowess lead to BMW becoming the most copied automotive brand on earth and actually emphasizes that Bangle is a sort of Steve Jobs

He's enormous influence on car design can never be denied. That is how he's viewed, respected for and will be part of the history of designers like Hofmeister, Bertram and Karmann.

 

[deity]

I agree with you here. I actually really enjoy Bangle's designs. Even though they're very unorthodox (even too quirky at times), I find that they're far more interesting than the typical look which Buick, Lexus, Toyota, and Hyundai are moving towards. Even though the look is quite nice to behold, I liked the 'abstract-ed-ness' of the Bangle Era. In fact, the previous gen 5er is one of my favorite BMWs. Especially the M5. That was an ultra-agressive design that really worked for me. The new BMWs are all arguably better looking, but less interesting to look at.

 

[K-A]

I actually agree with you here. I actually really enjoy Bangle's designs. Even though they're very unorthodox (even too quirky at times), I find that they're far more interesting than the typical look which Buick, Lexus, Toyota, and Hyundai are moving towards. Even though the look is quite nice to behold, I liked the 'abstract-ed-ness' of the Bangle Era. In fact, the previous gen 5er is one of my favorite BMWs. Especially the M5. That was an ultra-agressive design that really worked for me. The new BMWs are all arguably better looking, but less interesting to look at.

Coolest part is that he was responsible for both which shows such dynamic capabilities and talent. He was ahead of the curve on both counts.

 

[chonkoa]

I wish for the day when we can discuss the substance of a thread without the pointed criticism. I think what the OP was trying to solicit is a healthy debate/conversation on his thoughts. It could be a bit of rambling to some but I admit there is merit to the subject .
I have to say this thread got me thinking on why I bought my first BMW, being someone that grew up dreaming of Mercedes. I remember getting the E90 330i in 2005 because it was different, and it drove well too- E60 was too expensive as of that moment otherwise it would have been the choice.

Prior to the Bangle era, most designs were more on the conservative side( I could be wrong, and if I am then I offer my sincere apologies). I think Chris imbibed the culture of melding art and engineering into the philosophy of "design language. A car design doesn't have to be boring just as architecture doesn't have to be boring.
Due to his design philosophy:design language as he often describes it, car design became more subjective just like everything artistic and dare I say philosophical.

 

[skbmw]

I tried to stay out of this thread but I just couldn't after seeing chonkoa's post.

I myself got into BMWs after the "classic era" in middle of the 2000's. I chose BMW mostly due to the best driving feel in the segment and the undenied blood boiling sound of the I6. After 5 years and 3 BMWs, seeing photos of the "classic era" makes me weep. Although I like my current and my previous BMWs A LOT, honestly the "classic era" is so much better. If BMW gave me the "classic era" look with the modern technology (which I can't live without) I would be happy to put down more money every month then I'm putting down currently.

Point being that while I admit that Bangle did a lot of good for BMW, I still like the classic era more.

 

[K-A]

I wish for the day when we can discuss the substance of a thread without the pointed criticism. I think what the OP was trying to solicit is a healthy debate/conversation on his thoughts. It could be a bit of rambling to some but I admit there is merit to the subject .
I have to say this thread got me thinking on why I bought my first BMW, being someone that grew up dreaming of Mercedes. I remember getting the E90 330i in 2005 because it was different, and it drove well too- E60 was too expensive as of that moment otherwise it would have been the choice.

Prior to the Bangle era, most designs were more on the conservative side( I could be wrong, and if I am then I offer my sincere apologies). I think Chris imbibed the culture of melding art and engineering into the philosophy of "design language. A car design doesn't have to be boring just as architecture doesn't have to be boring.
Due to his design philosophy:design language as he often describes it, car design became more subjective just like everything artistic and dare I say philosophical.

Thanks, and you're spot on. I think this is an important subject as people seem to have a distorted view of "Bangle" as the name has become more of an adjective, a metaphor now, for simply one side of his work.

As for "rambling". well yeah, that's just what I do.

 

[K-A]

I tried to stay out of this thread but I just couldn't after seeing chonkoa's post.

I myself got into BMWs after the "classic era" in middle of the 2000's. I chose BMW mostly due to the best driving feel in the segment and the undenied blood boiling sound of the I6. After 5 years and 3 BMWs, seeing photos of the "classic era" makes me weep. Although I like my current and my previous BMWs A LOT, honestly the "classic era" is so much better. If BMW gave me the "classic era" look with the modern technology (which I can't live without) I would be happy to put down more money every month then I'm putting down currently.

Point being that while I admit that Bangle did a lot of good for BMW, I still like the classic era more.

I totally agree about the I6. IMO the I6 by BMW is a masterpiece. I didn't want a 550i even if they offered it to me for the same price, that's how much I love the BMW I6 experience. I've been saying it here for some time, that the current N55 setup is my favorite in the BMW lineup (mated to the 8-Speed is just sublime). Something about it, the sound, the feel, the historical ties (though with the Turbo it actually feels more like a torquey V8 now than an old BMW I6, but the soul is still there).

Onto design, I agree. Classic BMW (pre-Bangle) was the best. The "Bangle gen" really screwed up the looks. BUT, my point here is that IMO Bangle showed that he wasn't a one-trick pony. IMO the F01/F10/F12 gen are as close as it gets to the classic "Pre-Bangle" era, and those are designed under the helm of Bangle. What it shows is that the man was a design genius, whether it was in making cars ugly enough to get peoples attention, or nice enough to show his raw talents in designing beauty.

IMO the F01/F10 gen redeemed his early work on an aesthetic front.

 

[Andy1980]

K-A might be right!
Who was the leading designer of 7er e65 and 6er e63?
ADRIAN VAN HOOYDONK

 

[mini_cooper4]

Great thread, K-A!
Yes, the most revolutionary design in the last few decades was indeed a Bangle's work - The E65 7-Series. It's interior was copied by MB in the W221... the gear switch, dashboard, monitor positioning, the i-Drive stick and so on and so on.
It's design inspired every next car that came on the market to date. He integrated furniture and architectural design into car designs and made cars up to date with everything else
And remember that Bangle was FIRST and ALL followed or copied... for good or bad!

 

[Huckfeldt]

Speaking of "alternative universe".. I can only wonder, had Chris Bangle not existed, the cars today would have looked way different than they do now.. from BMW to even Toyota.

But, I can't help but imagine that without the E90, that universe's 2013 3er would have been so, so, much beautiful ! (Imagine E46 refined for TWO generations !!)

 

[rollo]

Bangle certainly did revolutionize BMW design (in a horrible way for me). And it took a few generations of new cars to get rid of his over-the-top styling.

Some of his styling cues are current today but they needed to be toned down dramatically to work.

Comparing him to Steve Jobs is just plain ridiculous.

 

[Gianclaudio]

Sorry to ruin the Bangle party, but Monsieur Patrick Le Quément, was doing radical/avantgarde designs before Bangle.
Obviously, in Bangle's case, being at BMW, their designs had much more impact on the industry than econocars like Renault.

I personally, hate "Bangle era" Bimmers (except E60, a master piece) and the consecuent effect on industry, when suddenly about every manufacturer felt they have to make in your face designs. IMO, his legacy was, for the worse.

On a side note, I've many designs books, and I've read several times on then what K-A says, the E63 was designed by Adrian van Hooydonk.....

 

[Wolfgang]

... and Steve Jobs prefers MB.


Reconciling with Google's Eric Schmidt:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/10...ogles_eric_schmidt_reconcile_over_coffee.html

 

[EnI]

Some explanation must be made here:

1.
Bangle didn't designed any of the so-called "Bangled BMWs". He was hired by BMW for his managerial skills, not for his designer skills. He was brought to BMW by Herr Reitzle himself - to rebuild the BMW design department after tragic departure of BMW chief designer Herr Luthe - who had been sentenced for killing his junkie son. All until Reitzle was the R&D chief @ BMW, Bangle couldn't influence & persuade the board since Reitzle had the ultimate word on designs (as R&D chief) and a power of veto, sort of. Very often he came to the studio & influenced the details of the design. Even when Bangle had already been the new design chief.

2.
The decision to go "Bangle" was not Bangle's idea only, but mostly Reitzle's & also the whole board agreed to it. They knew BMW design had been stuck in time since the Neue Klasse introduction. So they had several options to pick from: a) revolution (introduction of completely new BMW design trademarks - incl the grille, the kink etc); b) evolution; c) going retro; and d) going avant-garde. And they opted for the latest - since it was the best fit to the brand image (powerful, dynamic, modern etc) & to the digital revolution that was going on.

3.
Bangle did great with design department reconstruction. BMW AG even bought Designworks to enhance the department. And design department began with the implementation of the new design strategy - which was first introduced publicly with the BMW Concept Z9 Gran Turismo coupe. The stars of the new designs were: Adrian van Hooydonk (E65 7er, E63 6er), Anders Warming (E85 Z4), Davide Archangeli (E60 5er) and Chris Chapman (E87 1er). None of the cars were designed by Chris Bangle himself!
Mind the E65 7er was designed still in Reitzle era, and he opposed the front & the rear design of the E65 ... but during the final process Reitzle left BMW (after not being named CEO). And so - due to change of management, and Reitzle gone - Bangle word gained weight. Therefore avantgarde designs went on ... perhaps not as much refined now without Reitzle's "magic touch".
But ALL the decisions regarding the picked designs were made by the board of management!

4.
Soon after E60 launch Bangle & van Hooydonk explained the aim was to persuade the board to let the designers to move the design frontier as far as possible - and then in the next generations make all the further refinements ... but based on the original avantgarde design. So it was clear from the very beginning the next stages (next generations) would all be about refinement & detailing.

5.
Bangle left since his work was done: the design department was rebuilt, the new design strategy was implemented, and the refinement process has begun. It was time for a new man. For continuity: with AvH. He had been Bangle's right hand from the very beginning. OK, there was some dispute regarding the BMW i design but that was not the reason Bangle left. It was just the natural end to his very rich opus.

6.
Bangle himself - a great manager, even better motivator & inspirational speaker - is not known for best sense of aesthetics. Far from that. But he is known as visionary. As philosopher within automotive industry ... With his post-modern view on automotive industry ... how the tech & new materials will influence the design, how the urbanization in Far East will influence the mobility solutions, how the tech & shift in consumer behavior will influence the automobile as a product.
He's given the BMW & the industry some new angle, some new perspective on not only automotive design but also on the automotive future itself. Not only Bangle is a visionary, he is also a realo-futurist ... he influenced BMW AG very much ... all the departments. And therefore BMW is mentally ahead of the curve. Being a trend-setter. And how the brand image has also profited form that fact is also amazing.

7.
Sure some design details (re-)introduced in Bangle era has become very trendy - even when initially being criticized due to clumsiness & lack of aesthetic factor. But "the butts", "the eyebrows", "flame-surfacing" (convex-concave panels with sharp creases) etc are now design standard, a mainstream. Not that Bangle & BMW invented them, but they re-introduced these features & made them trendy again. They set trends. And so they made BMW a design leader, a design pioneer. Which will be reconfirmed with BMW i designs - which already do & will further do influence the core BMW design as well.

8.
The future ...
BMW: Further refinement. More detailing. Some BMW-i elements across the line. Mix of organic & techno-design. Special family-specific design elements (eg. X, Z, GT, AT etc) developed further.
MINI: Evolution. Retro is here to stay. Introduction of some contemporary design elements - eg. some sharp line and flame-surfacing here & there, LEDs etc
RR: Refinement & evolution of current designs. More elegance added. Sharper lines. Boxiness is here to stay.

Btw, the avant-garde role of "flame-surfacing" (now a mainstream) will be replaced with a new avant-garde design feature: "layering" ...

 

[martinbo]

^ All, please take note of a properly constructed post containing something painfully lacking in other members' posts here: substance.

 

[klier]

All until Reitzle was the R&D chief @ BMW, Bangle couldn't influence & persuade the board since Reitzle had the ultimate word on designs (as R&D chief) and a power of veto, sort of. Very often he came to the studio & influenced the details of the design. Even when Bangle had already been the new design chief.

I cannot imagine seeing his face after sitting in a pre-fl E60 interior. The quality of materials must have almost killed him I'm sure (not to mention it's design)!!