01-29-2006, 03:04 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
| Expert
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden
Posts: 12,612
Thanks: 741
Thanked 2,035 Times in 1,028 Posts
| Encyclopedia about Chris Bangle
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Designs which Bangle has overseen include the 1 Series, 3 Series, 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series and Z4 roadster. These designs deviate from BMW's usual purely functional, rigid, straight-line forms. The 1-Series and Z4 especially have more sculpted appearances and curved lines. Among BMW fans, the consensus seems to be "love it or hate it" [1]. Bangle has coined the phrase "flame surfacing" to describe his work. The characteristic of flame surfacing is to reflect light differently off the metal, giving it an unconventional and eye catching appearance compared to conventional surfacing.
One of his more-controversial design elements is the two-level "Bangle-butt". Although criticized by many, this element has been widely copied and has become a staple of high-end automobile design.
Despite the general new appearances, however, Bangle has respected several long-standing BMW traditions like the trademark twin-kidney grille, Hofmeister kink and quadruple headlights. Proponents of Bangle's designs say that the new design direction represents a move into the future for normally stolidly conservative BMWs.
Bangle is not shy about defending his designs when they are criticized. He has the backing of the BMW board of directors, which wanted to move BMW's image into the future. He argues that it is necessary for product lines to follow a cycle of a revolutionary generation followed by an evolutionary generation followed by another revolutionary generation and so on. Indeed, he oversaw the conservative evolution of BMW designs with the redesign of the BMW 3-Series BMW E46 and the introduction of the BMW X5. For Bangle this marked the end of the evolution of BMW design and the revolution was witnessed with the 2002 introduction of the BMW E65. Bangle acknowledges that his designs do not look good in photographs, suggesting to critics that they should see the cars in real life before judging them on their looks. |
|  |
Similar Threads 
Linear Mode
