Chris Bangle "promoted"

[crayzayjay]

Chris Bangle, chief designer of BMW has been removed from direct styling responsibility for all future models. He has been "promoted" to the newly created post of Director of BMW Group Design, an executive position distanced from the design floor.

More here.

[csieminski]

Thank God.

[MITSU-EVO]

His designs sucked big time!!! Not an upsetting thing to know...

[asdf123456]

The guy that replaced him shares the same "artistic" style (new 6-series). Maybe my E32 will be a desired "classic" now thanks to those guys.

As a former art student, it disturbs me when someone defends their shortcomings so blindly and stubbornly. I was taught to take criticism. If the overall reaction wasn't gushing, it meant something was wrong and I re-evaluated the design. I didn't stand there like a baby and say "na uh, you're stupid". These guys and there poor little egos. I see probably another 4 or 5 years of this Pontiac era design.

[csieminski]

Agreed. The new guy's name is Adrian van Hooydonk. There is an article about him in the first 2002 issue of BMW Magazine (sent to me courtesy of the company--I think if you go to "Owners Circle" at bmwusa.com, you can register).

In the article, it states that he is the "...newly appointed President of Designworks/USA, [and] was responsible for the exterior design of the completely redesigned 2002 7 Series."

And get this: To quote him, "I can define iDrive in two words: Cleaning Up. Enabling people to deal with information when they want it, and in a way so that they can process it. In a BMW, the computer will never dominate the car, or control the driving pleasure." I don't know what BMW he's talking about, but given what I've heard, the 2002 7-Series does not come to mind.

[asdf123456]

From what I've heard, they are slowing fixing some of their mistakes. Some changes to I-drive now allow 1 button access to comon controls rather than through menus, leaving only the more complicated operations deeper in the menus like the navagation system. I've also heard of some minor re-designing, but they deny it is do to negative public and press reactions to current designs. It's still probably not going to fix those stupid "Pontiac eyes". They don't want to go retro, fine. That would be a sellout decision anyway. They should cut their losses and go back to the drawing board.