Autoblog

Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Jeff Sabatini — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST

Even to casual car enthusiasts, Chris Bangle needs no introduction. One of the most controversial designers of all time, the "Bangle Butt" redesign of the BMW 7 Series is still hotly debated even today. Introduced in 2002 during Bangle's tenure as chief designer at BMW, the E65 7 Series only began to develop Bangle's new design language for BMW, later dubbed "flame surfacing." Whether you love or hate his work - and there seems to be no middle ground - the man's influence is undeniable. Many manufacturers have since borrowed aspects of his designs for their own vehicles.

It's only fitting, then, that the 25th anniversary Eyes On Design car show should award Bangle its prestigious Lifetime Design Achievement Award. Held each summer at the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House just outside Detroit in Grosse Pointe Shores, Eyes On Design is a real insiders club, in that only those designers who have won the Lifetime Design Achievement Award are eligible to vote.

While we knew Bangle would be receiving this award from his peers since November 2011, the actual ceremony was held this past weekend at the Detroit Yacht Club. Retired Ford designer Jack Telnack, General Motors design chief Ed Welburn, and Ford director of exterior design Joel Piaskowski were among those who spoke. Bangle joins a pretty famous crew of past award winners, including Italian design legends Giorgetto Giugiaro and the recently deceased Sergio Pininfarina, William "Willy" G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson, and former Chrysler and GM "car guy in chief" Bob Lutz.

Scroll down to watch video footage of the awards ceremony and read the full press release.

Continue reading Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video]

Ex-BMW styling boss Chris Bangle gets Lifetime Achievement from Eyes On Design [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chris Bangle on supercars

Zach Bowman — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show, Videos, Celebrities, Design/Style

Chris Bangle talks supercars - Click above to watch video after the jump

Regardless of where you stand on Chris Bangle's contribution to BMW design, the man possesses a unique insight on the state of automotive design today. The guys at Car Design News recently got the chance to catch up with Bangle at the Geneva Motor Show, and rather than ask him about whether or not he has any intention of returning to the automotive sector any time soon, Editor Eric Gallina pinged the former BMW design boss on what he thought of supercar design today.

The answer was far more enlightening and entertaining than any pre-manufactured sound bite.

By and large, Bangle seems to think supercar design has hit a plateau, and that if automakers are willing to be politically incorrect by manufacturing high-horsepower, fuel-thirsty speed machines, they also need to be willing to take some risks on the design front as well.

Oh, there's also a bit where he says that Lamborghini products were typically designed to be given to prostitutes. Or something. If you can stand a little shaky-hand-cam to the max, the clip after the jump will be well worth your time.

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Chris Bangle on supercars

Video: Chris Bangle on supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flame-Surfaced Computers? Chris Bangle reportedly signs deal with Samsung

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Technology, BMW, Design/Style

Chris Bangle, the controversial former head of BMW design, has joined forces with Samsung to oversee the design of notebooks and phones. Bangle, you may recall, left BMW in 2009 after 17 years to focus on his own design projects.

According to Samsung, Bangle is operating as an outside influence on the design of their phones and laptops and will still work on his own projects outside of the company. The American designer set up Chris Bangle and Associates shortly after leaving BMW, and has been working on designing yachts and electronics ever since.

Samsung says the move is an effort to emphasize its new focus on the design of their electronics and move the brand upmarket. Samsung says it will set up a European design center specifically for Bangle and send 10 or so researchers from the company to work with him on new design ideas.

[Source: JoongAng Daily]

Flame-Surfaced Computers? Chris Bangle reportedly signs deal with Samsung originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Documentary provides a peek into the mind of controversial designer Chris Bangle

Zach Bowman — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, BMW, Design/Style

Inframe interviews Chris Bangle - Click above to watch video after the jump

If you've ever wondered how former BMW design guru Chris Bangle's mind works, you're in luck. Inframe has rolled out a special documentary on the man behind some of the more controversial design elements in the BMW stable, and the site has even been so kind as to roll out a teaser video to give us an idea of what to expect from its documentary on Bangle.

Over the course of the quick five-minute clip, the designer touches on everything from his time with General Motors to the inner workings of the separate companies under the BMW banner when he arrived at the German manufacturer at age 35. Bangle also shares what he has tucked away in his own personal garage at the moment, including one very special classic. We won't spoil it for you. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Chris A!

[Source: BMW Blog]

Continue reading Video: Documentary provides a peek into the mind of controversial designer Chris Bangle

Video: Documentary provides a peek into the mind of controversial designer Chris Bangle originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CAR catches up with designer Chris Bangle - Will he resurface after March 2010?

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Design/Style

There's little question Chris Bangle is one of the greatest designers of his generation. His cars were rarely pretty, but their influence resonated around the automotive world like a pipe bomb in an echo chamber. Much like cutting edge graphic design is born inside art school graduate schools years before it's ready for massive public consumption, Bangle's Bimmers were ahead of their time. And they changed nearly everything. Controversial? Of course, but that's how the public digests new design. Skittishly at first, before becoming so used to the flavor that it's hardly noticed anymore.

Case in point: The Toyota Camry, probably the most conservative car in the world, and one that attempts to appeal to as great a cross-section of buyers as possible, uses the rear end (a.k.a. Bangle Bustle or in the parlance of our times, Bangle Butt) from the 2002 BMW E65 7 Series. Again, you don't have to like Chris Bangle's work, but to deny his influence is to be willfully ignorant. This past February, Mr. Bangle retired from both BMW and the car industry as a whole. And to our knowledge he's been laying pretty low. That is until Britain's Car caught up with him at his design studio/vineyard in northern Italy.

How's he doing? Well, he seems to be the big art school nerd he was before he was able to retire to the Italian country side. In other words, he talks about a car's inherent "carness," as well as stuff like, "It is about creating a different type of relationship between design, design's outcome, the product and the people who use and enjoy it." A big however, however, is in order because we get treated to a more critical, dare we say, unrestrained side of Chris Bangle.

"I feel incredibly motivated to find out how design can overturn this horror of a world," Bangle tells Car. That's one way of taking design to the next level. Bangle also lays some wood into the current state of car design. "You can always argue that the generation before didn't have the constraints that we have, but that's crap." As you can see, it's a fun read. As for the big question - whether or not Chris Bangle will once again design cars after his non-compete clause expires in March of next year, let's just say... maybe.

[Source: Car]

CAR catches up with designer Chris Bangle - Will he resurface after March 2010? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: BMW drops the details on its 2010 5 Series Gran Turismo [w/VIDEO]

Chris Paukert — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Crossover, Hatchback, BMW

2010 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite the departure of controversial lead designer Chris Bangle, BMW is showing no signs of returning to the "One sausage, three-sizes" styling brief that it once adhered to. The latest proof of this is the announcement of the production 5 Series Gran Turismo, which, as expected, looks little changed from the concept that set tongues wagging in Geneva, save for a few details like smaller wheels, more conventional interior fabrics and real-world-sized side mirrors.

The genre-blurring 5 Series GT is, in the words of BMW, meant to combine "the characteristic features of a prestige saloon, a modern, highly versatile Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo" - outwardly, at least, we'd say that they've succeeded in meeting that goal, although the final judgment on whether this amalgam of characteristics is a even a direction worth pursuing will ultimately be made by consumers.

In the meantime, we can focus not only on the five-door hatchback's design, but also its internals, as BMW has released specifications and pricing for its European market models.

In the main, BMW has disclosed that Europe's gasoline model range will be composed of the 306 horsepower, 3.0-liter 535i Gran Turismo (a derivative of the fabulous dual-turbo inline-six seen in the engine bays of the 1, 3, and 5 Series) and the 550i Gran Turismo, which relies on a stonking dual-turbo 4.4-liter V8 good for 407 horsepower, an engine that promises to be just the thing when you're running late for your squash court appointment. Finally, there's the 530d Gran Turismo, which offers a 3.0-liter, 245 horsepower I6 diesel powerplant and a tidy C02 rating of 173 grams per kilometer. Regardless of which engine the buyer chooses, the sole gearbox offering will be the eight-speed automatic gearbox borrowed from the 760i luxury sedan. The cog-happy unit should not only help with overall fuel economy, but it makes any model in the range a sprightly performer, with BMW quoting 0-62 mph times of 6.3 seconds for the 535i GT, 5.5 seconds for the 550i GT, and a thoroughly respectable 6.9 seconds for the 530d GT (which also achieves 43.5 miles per imperial gallon, or around 36 mpg US).

It isn't yet clear what models will come to the States, but we're hearing that the 550i will be the first to make the journey, and it is likely to arrive carrying a price tag of around $70,000, which would represent around a $10,000 premium over the less-powerful 550i sedan. Check out the official video and complete press release after the jump, as well as the massive high-res gallery below. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: 2010 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Officially Official: BMW drops the details on its 2010 5 Series Gran Turismo [w/VIDEO]

Officially Official: BMW drops the details on its 2010 5 Series Gran Turismo [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 May 2009 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW influencing low-cost housing with GINA Concept?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Technology, BMW, Lifestyle

The BMW GINA Light Visionary Model was not only about doing more with your car, it was about multiplying the concept of what kind of object a car could be. BMW's design chief ,Chris Bangle, the man behind the BMW GINA Concept, was a recent guest professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and brought the vision of GINA with him.

Bangle's challenge to the class was that they utilize the transformable skin from the concept car to create "futuristic housing concepts." The students came up with homes that almost act as foils for their owners - one "would give you more space, but only if you negotiated it with your neighbors." The idea of a house that can mutate along with us is a clever carryover of technology from concept auto to domicile. Even so, the idea of a house that chides us with "Go ask Bob next door if it's all right..." could take some getting used to. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

[Source: NY Times via BMW Blog]

BMW influencing low-cost housing with GINA Concept? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tie a pork chop around its neck - Telegraph counts down 100 ugliest cars

Dan Roth — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:52:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Europe

It didn't start off as a way for readers of England's Telegraph newspaper to engage in the popular pastime of bashing American cars, but it wound up that way. To be fair, there are plenty of odd and ugly vehicles from all over the place on the Telegraph's list of the 100 ugliest cars of all time, and the voters didn't beat up on the colonies too badly. With so much homegrown hideousness to choose from, we can see how they'd be reluctant to throw stones.

The usual suspects are accounted for, of course. The Pacer is there, as are the Cayenne, BMW's 1 and 7 Series, though we thought the Rolls Royce Camargue was conspicuously low on the list. C'mon, guys, stop going easy on it just because you've got hometown pride. The Camargue really was horrid, no matter how well it sold. There are also vehicles that don't belong; cars that aren't even remotely ugly. The Boxster, XJS, TR7, and Chrysler 300 don't strike us as repulsive. The readers were almost spot-on, though, voting the Fiat Multipla into the second place slot. Number one is a car that everyone loves to hate, but it doesn't strike us as uglier than the Multipla. That vehicle? Aztek. Seriously.

[Source: Telegraph.co.uk via Hemmings]

Tie a pork chop around its neck - Telegraph counts down 100 ugliest cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen BMW 7-Series showing almost everything

Dan Roth — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Europe, BMW

BMW's current E65/66 7-Series has been roundly bashed since its introduction in 2002, and it's creeping up on retirement. Whether it was deserving of all the uproar or not is down to taste, but following up the classically styled E38 while also making a turn toward a new ethos is a 1-2 punch of controversy. BMW's finally grown into its flame surfacing, and the 2009 7-Series has been nabbed in its peculiar paisley camouflage.

Overhangs are still short like on the current car, and it looks like the headlamps might possibly be 5-Series inspired. Things are conservative and clean down the flanks, and we think it's handsome. The bustle trunk of the current 7 has been one of the biggest bones of contention, and from what we can make out, it's been treated to significant rhinoplasty. We'll have to wait and see, but we sincerely hope the unmasked car's taillights don't bear the same resemblance to a 2002 Maxima that we're seeing in the spy shots. Squinting and ignoring the black tape has us predicting that 2009 will be the year the BMW 7-Series gets is sexy back, even if they graft Trabant blinkers to its tukas.

[Source: Motive Mag, Photo: Auto Zeitung]

Spy Shots: Next-gen BMW 7-Series showing almost everything originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7-series

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:04:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, BMW

Although the BMW 7-series has undergone some mild styling tweaks over the past few years, it seems that more is on the way, all in an effort to tighten the reigns of the mangled Bangled versions that caused drivers to bleed from their eyes.

Although some hope that the Concept CS will influence future 7s, the 2009 model will be more of an evolution, likely drawing cues from the redesigned 3-series. But the real changes are likely to come from underneath.

A longer wheelbase, partnered with a wider track, will be utilized to keep with BMW's handling ethos, while new engine choices, including a hybrid and twin-turbo V8 diesel will provide motivation. A new ZF eight-speed gearbox is almost certain, along with a revised iDrive system and several new safety features.

Look out for the refresh in 2009, with a full redesign sometime next decade.

[Source: Autogepot via Motor Authority]

Spy Shots: 2009 BMW 7-series originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW: From Ultimate Driving Machine to Official Car of the Creative Class

Erin Mays — Sat, 06 May 2006 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, BMW

BMW might be willingly giving up its title of the Ultimate Driving Machine... at least in its advertising. BMW execs were shocked to find out that a whopping 75-percent of luxury car buyers aren't considering a BMW, despite the brand's dominance in terms of sales. The answer? Push design and financial independence, and have the brass to develop advertising campaigns that draw the creative class, not simply stuffy old business types.

In one ad, BMW moons the viewer with the 7-series' Bangle-butt, featuring the tagline, "Not taking risks is risky." The ad is a direct hit on everyone who has called the BMW's infamous design a tragedy, only to see the likes of Audi and Toyota adopt similar styling motifs. Another ad takes a shot at the luxury carmakers that "report" to a non-luxury higher power, i.e. Volvo/Ford, Mercedes/DaimlerChrysler, Audi/Volkswagen and Acura/Honda.

The last element of the campaign: ditch traditional media for the non-traditional, such as web sites and other hangouts of creative types like independant coffee shops that sell "special" brownies.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

BMW: From Ultimate Driving Machine to Official Car of the Creative Class originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 May 2006 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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