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BMW design chief Chris Bangle quits auto industry

 
17 10,001 views Feb 3, 2009

Chris Bangle first joined BMW in 1992 and quickly rose to notoriety after the release of the E65 7-series in 2002

Chris Bangle first joined BMW in 1992 and quickly rose to notoriety after the release of the E65 7-series in 2002

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One of the most recognized automobile designers in the world, Chris Bangle, has announced today that he plans to quit the auto industry to pursue his own design-related endeavours. Bangle is the controversial designer behind recent BMW design traits such as ‘flame surfacing’ and the notorious ‘Bangle Butt’ boot lid, and his creative works have divided numerous BMW enthusiasts over the years who either love or hate them.

Bangle leaves the post of BMW Group's Head of Design and will be replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk, who is currently Head of BMW Automobile Design. Both designers have worked closely together for the past 17 years and have mapped out a clear and aesthetic route for the future of the German luxury carmaker.

Chris Bangle will be replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk as BMW Group's Head of Design

Chris Bangle will be replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk as BMW Group's Head of Design

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"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," said BMW development chief Klaus Draeger.

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 Opel. In 1985 he joined Fiat, where he became director of the Fiat Centro Stile in 1992 and designed the legendary Fiat Coupe. Shortly afterwards he left the Italian automaker to come to Munich.

Bangle became the first American BMW Head of Design in 1992, where he penned the Z9 Gran Turismo concept car. Despite the controversy and heated opinions behind many of his designs, his styling themes have gone on to inspire numerous designs at rival car companies and have had a significant affect on the global auto industry.





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Comments (17)

  1. ma_Damien Thomas avatar Damien Thomas Posted: 2/3/2009 6:34am PST

    Good riddance
     
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  2. ma_mantena avatar mantena Posted: 2/3/2009 8:06am PST

    so long you f...!
     
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  3. ma_Chris avatar Chris Posted: 2/3/2009 8:19am PST

    i hope Donk keeps the flames, looses the butt.

    i hope he brings some styling that will make people respect him and not just call him Donk like i did. until that day.. hes just "donk" in my eyes.
     
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  4. ma_LisaV avatar LisaV Posted: 2/3/2009 8:51am PST

    Thank god.
     
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  5. ma_danDAN avatar danDAN Posted: 2/3/2009 9:44am PST

    how is the 7 series uglier than the X3??? The X3 is the ugliest car ever
     
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  6. ma_InkMaster avatar InkMaster Posted: 2/3/2009 2:04pm PST

    I'm still confused here.. Why all the hate about the last gen 7 series? I personally think its the best design they ever had - unlike the current which looks like a pufferfish. and ffs, X3??? come on... that thing looks like a shoe, how is it not voted as worst??
     
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  7. sidraja avatar Siddarth Raja Posted: 2/3/2009 4:04pm PST

    Don't blame us. Everyone in the MotorAuthority office voted for the X3. Worst design ever, and the awful thing is that it was facelifted in 2006!
     
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  8. ma_HECTOR avatar HECTOR Posted: 2/3/2009 4:24pm PST

    Too late BMW: the damage is done.

    And let's not forget that this dork did a lot more damage than appreciated. Look at the current MB S class and you see an uglier clone of the 7 series, especially inside.
     
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  9. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 2/3/2009 4:59pm PST

    You know, people can say all the nagtive things they want about him, but he made an impact on the industry and many companies tries copying his style despite the criticism from other people.
     
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  10. ma_gus avatar Gus Chyba Posted: 2/3/2009 5:00pm PST

    Ah, Sid lives! :)

    As for Bangle, na na na naaah, na na na naaaahhh, hey hey heyyy, goood bye!!!
     
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  11. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 2/3/2009 7:05pm PST

    haha yay! bring on a real designer, one that doesnt design looking through his bum hole
     
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  12. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 2/3/2009 8:18pm PST

    I'm going to buy a lottery ticket as it appears my luck has changed for the better......
     
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  13. ma_LisaV avatar LisaV Posted: 2/3/2009 9:11pm PST

    Inkmaster: It's the relative ugliness. It was so handsome '89-'99 that the Relative damage FefiboBangle-sheiskopf did with the 7, is the greatest.
     
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  14. ma_taksan avatar taksan Posted: 2/4/2009 6:20am PST

    He might have designed some ugly cars, especially the X3, but he made styles that controversial and everyone followed. He changed how cars should be designed and thats a good thing.
     
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  15. ma_Roy avatar Roy Posted: 2/6/2009 8:51am PST

    Bangle has presided over a couple of very nice updates to the BMW 3 series. The current model looks gorgeous. As for the rest, I think he's been more popular in Europe and he certainly moved the bar in terms of forward thinking design. Until he took over at BMW, Lexus was the pinnacle of luxury car design ... and they were just copying Mercedes of the 1980s! Personally, I'll miss him - he made the roads more interesting and you always knew you were looking at a BMW. How many cars can you say that about?
     
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  16. By Nabes Posted: 4/25/2010 4:36am PDT

    Roy you are right. You always new you were looking at a BMW because it was the most butt ugly design on the road. To go from the beautiful wedge of the 5 series, a classic that doesn't date to what? Cacophony is the only word I can think of. He will be know as the forward thinker of incoherent and ugly design. It stands out in the crowd because it is so horrible, not because it is so beautiful. I think BMW has lost out in the long run. In my mind they have become
     
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  17. By Nabes Posted: 4/25/2010 4:37am PDT

    synonymous with grounbreaking ugliness.
     
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