the E65 rear trunk conundrum.

traffic was pretty awful today. so i looked around at cars while stuck in the parking lot called the masspike.

what struck me is how UNNOTICEABLE other trunk designs are, and yet they achieve the same stated purpose as the trunk on the E65. it was something about keeping the spaciousness of the trunk but "keeping in the design" of the car.

well, i'd say, the next time anyone else is stuck in traffic, have a good looksee at how other auto designers have integrated an increased height trunk deck into their cars. the ford taurus. the toyota avalon. the toyota camry. the Jetta III. the dodge stratus. the old and new E class cars. the new maxima. the list goes on and on. all of these cars also have a design where the line of the car swoops upward toward the rear and there is a clear need to increase trunk space, but you NEVER notice any oddity about these designs.

i mean, even compare the e30 trunk to the e36 trunk. the e36 trunklid is chunky, but it integrates well with the car.

why this is unable to be done with the new designs sure is odd.

Originally Posted by pdz

traffic was pretty awful today. so i looked around at cars while stuck in the parking lot called the masspike.

what struck me is how UNNOTICEABLE other trunk designs are, and yet they achieve the same stated purpose as the trunk on the E65. it was something about keeping the spaciousness of the trunk but "keeping in the design" of the car.

well, i'd say, the next time anyone else is stuck in traffic, have a good looksee at how other auto designers have integrated an increased height trunk deck into their cars. the ford taurus. the toyota avalon. the toyota camry. the Jetta III. the dodge stratus. the old and new E class cars. the new maxima. the list goes on and on. all of these cars also have a design where the line of the car swoops upward toward the rear and there is a clear need to increase trunk space, but you NEVER notice any oddity about these designs.

i mean, even compare the e30 trunk to the e36 trunk. the e36 trunklid is chunky, but it integrates well with the car.

why this is unable to be done with the new designs sure is odd.

Completely agree. The e46 also has a "large butt" but its well-integrated enough that you don't really notice it. My father's old Saab 9000 CDE had an ENORMOUS trunk that I guarantee was larger than even the 745's-- and it still looked better integrated.

Originally Posted by robg

The e46 also has a "large butt" but its well-integrated enough that you don't really notice it.

I don't think so. It's quite noticeable to me.

Originally Posted by The Roadstergal

I don't think so. It's quite noticeable to me.

I agree that its large (Especially compared to older 3 series)- but you really think the e46's butt looks as obvious as the e65's? The e65 trunk calls extra attention to itself w/ the seam-lines that cut outwards, and the squared off trunk.

I think the other consideration is how the taillights drop down, emphasizing the JLo trunk even more.

Originally Posted by The Roadstergal

I don't think so. It's quite noticeable to me.

Interesting. So compared to E46, the E65 has a more elegant trunk design ?

Hmmm...

Originally Posted by Alex Baumann

Interesting. So compared to E46, the E65 has a more elegant trunk design ?

Hmmm...

sometimes i'm not even sure it's the added trunk lip as much as the tail lights accentuating the discontinuity which make the design look 'odd'.

if there were not taillights on the trunk itself, but just restricted to the rear fenders, it would be much less noticeable and more integrated.

The E46 does have a big butt! But I also think it integrates realtive well with the rest of the body. But I gotta agree that the E36's butt was much better integrated! Lower, flatter, and the way the tail lights flow from fender to trunk lid on the E36 was better than the E46's taller, rounder deck and the big light on fender little light on trunk lid.

But I still think that the bigger discontinuities found on the butt of the E65 (and the other designs, though not as much on the Z4) are much worse!

But, one thing is true, and this might be part of what Bangle wants, is that you do notice the butts! As you say, all the others seem to disappear in to the sea of similar designs while the Bangle Butt stands out and draws your attention to it and the rest of the car. Isn't that what all designers of any structure want... to get you looking. The fact that you then either hate it or love it is relatively immaterial, as they already got you thinking.

Hmmm, interesting to consider. I like what's been done with the trunk, and I don't know if 'better integrated' is really the word. It's way overdoing it to say it's a 'celebration of the trunk,' but there's something to be said for making a design element out of the 'trunkishness.' I think the E46 stands out because it isn't as styled, but is noticeably more massive than, say, the E30. The E30 I do feel has an 'integrated' design - take the design theme of a box, and apply to everything but the headlights. (I love it, of course, but that's how I feel it looks.)

BTW, what the **** do y'all carry in your trunks that you ask the designers for more and more and more space? I can lie down comfortably in my 'little' E30 trunk, even with the subwoofer there. I carried the old M20 bottom end in there.

Originally Posted by pdz

have a good looksee at how other auto designers have integrated an increased height trunk deck into their cars ... all of these cars also have a design where there is a clear need to increase trunk space, but you NEVER notice any oddity about these designs.

why this is unable to be done with the new designs sure is odd.

I don't think the new BMW trunk look has anything to do with increased cargo capacity. It's a styling thing that you either like or don't like.

It is hardly noticable on the new 5-series, in my opinion. In person the 5-series comes across as a bland "anycar" rather than an ugly car.

Jay

Originally Posted by Jay

I don't think the new BMW trunk look has anything to do with increased cargo capacity. It's a styling thing that you either like or don't like.

It is hardly noticable on the new 5-series, in my opinion. In person the 5-series comes across as a bland "anycar" rather than an ugly car.

Jay

Yes, according to Chris Bangle, it had to be that way because of the overall increase of the car's height (compared to the E38).

Originally Posted by Alex Baumann

according to Chris Bangle, it had to be that way because of the overall increase of the car's height

Do you believe him?

Jay

Originally Posted by Jay

Do you believe him?

Jay

i was pretty sure there was some practical consideration to it; but as the 6 series also has some curious stylistic details, it is all about style and has zero to do with trunk space.

i just can't figure out how someone with an art degree designs something to look like that.

is the coupe trunk space a lot less than the sedan on an e 46?


aty- I have fit 2 sets of golf clubs with long drivers easily

Originally Posted by Jay

Do you believe him?

Jay

No.

Originally Posted by Alex Baumann

No.

Agreed.