Chris Bangle Quits BMW… and the Auto Industry - BMW Forum

administrator · 02-03-2009, 11:58 AM

Chris Bangle, the man behind the controversial BMW designs over the last several decades has announced he is leaving his post at BMW after 17 years. Bangle became the Director of the BMW Design Group in 1992 and has since become one of the world's most infamous automotive designers.

Under Bangle's leadership BMW has produced many new designs 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. Bangle's design department also developed the designs for the new MINI and the Rolls-Royce Phantom (at least he got one of them right). Bangle will more likely be remembered for the drastic new direction that he took vehicles like the BMW 7 and 5 Series in. He is also responsible for several new 3 Series designs.

Bangle will be replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk, the currently Head of BMW Automobile Design, who Bangle has worked with for the past 17 years.

More: Chris Bangle Quits BMW… and the Auto Industry on AutoGuide.com

witeshark · 02-03-2009, 12:02 PM

Wow, huge news...

Teh Prof · 02-03-2009, 12:40 PM

Huge news indeed.

I don't think I'll be alone in saying it...liked (own!) his early stuff, dislike his later work...

AlpineSixAndSeven · 02-03-2009, 03:08 PM

yeah he seemed to be losing his touch... the New seven isnt that bad and looks more like the e38....

Amazetbm · 02-03-2009, 08:44 PM

Yeah that is big news. I didn't like his sedan designs but his coupe designs were pretty cool.

BigT's93 · 02-04-2009, 09:49 AM

fORD rEALLY nEEDS sOME help mAYBE hE wILL gO tHERE? tHEY mAKE tHE uGLIEST cARS oN tEH pLANET!!!
iF yOUR gOING tO mAKE a cRAPPY cAR, aT lEAST mAKE tHEM lOOK gOOD.

AlpineSixAndSeven · 02-04-2009, 02:57 PM

^

are you drunk

?

BimmerE39 · 02-04-2009, 06:57 PM

Wow, that is huge news. I know his styling was controversial and even I was not a fan at first but as time has passed I have warmed up to a lot of his designs. The Z4 is by far my favorite.

Sketch · 02-08-2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by administrator

Bangle's design department also developed the designs for the new MINI and the Rolls-Royce Phantom (at least he got one of them right).

Wait- what are you getting at with this statement?

doza08 · 02-09-2009, 05:08 PM

thats good stuff!

pathill · 02-12-2009, 09:35 AM

It can be a huge loss for BMW. The guy's an institution! Man, if I worked for BMW for 17 long years, I'm a millionaire by now with every single new BMW car on my garage.