Wonderful Day For BMW Purists!

Chris Bangle has LEFT BMW!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/b...auto-industry/



Here's to hoping for no more flame surfaced BS, and going back to their roots of fun to drive, engaging cars that are nice and well-optioned but don't look stupid and weigh twice what they should.


A truly memorable day!

What is it about the story I heard that this Van Hooydonk guy had as much to do with the flames-surfacing and Bangle-butt as Bangle himself did?

eff bangle. good riddance i say.

It may not make much difference in the end, BMW has become a consumer product.

Originally Posted by AirWreck

What is it about the story I heard that this Van Hooydonk guy had as much to do with the flames-surfacing and Bangle-butt as Bangle himself did?

I've heard that too, but hoping it's not true.

The press release does attribute the current 6 and 7 to vH in part, which does scare me a bit.

Dammit AirWreck - you just made another thought pop into my head, first time I've thought of this:
What if vH is crazy, and Bangle was actually toning him down and keeping it reasonable?

Noooo! I won't believe it.



Anyway, still holding out hope. Since the F01 and F10 are already well past the design stage, I guess we've got a while to see what this turns out to. I'd love to get back into a BMW in the future, but I can't stand any of the current lineup except the E87, and that's about 900lbs too heavy for it's size. Everything else looks frumpy and bloated. A few of my friends have E9x 335i coupes, and thy just feel silly. It took me a while to believe they started with the same number as my E36 325is - so totally different. Focus on driving dynamic just wasn't there.

I've always liked the Van Hooeydonk (Bangle approved) designs.

does this mean we can get back to God's Chariots: the E30?

Bangle and Van Hooydonk are two fingers of the same hand. Apparently, they did not see eye to eye in regard with the Project I. The Chief of R&D, Dr. Draeger and the CEO, Dr. Reithofer agreed with Van Hooydonk and Bangle chose to resign.

Good luck to him.

Whoever is responsible for the 6 Series is a genius in my book.

Originally Posted by rehostman

Bangle and Van Hooydonk are two fingers of the same hand. Apparently, they did not see eye to eye in regard with the Project I. The Chief of R&D, Dr. Draeger and the CEO, Dr. Reithofer agreed with Van Hooydonk and Bangle chose to resign.

Good luck to him.

Whoever is responsible for the 6 Series is a genius in my book.

Project I?

I'm curious about what you were talking about as well.

It'll surely take some serious time to undue Bangle's legacy, but this could be a good start.

Originally Posted by rehostman

Bangle and Van Hooydonk are two fingers of the same hand. Apparently, they did not see eye to eye in regard with the Project I. The Chief of R&D, Dr. Draeger and the CEO, Dr. Reithofer agreed with Van Hooydonk and Bangle chose to resign.

Good luck to him.

Whoever is responsible for the 6 Series is a genius in my book.

Van Hooydonk did the e65 7 series and the 6 series as well. He was the designer bgind the "bangle butt".

Originally Posted by Shocktopus

Project I?

http://www.motorauthority.com/previe...-city-car.html

Damn, I saw the thread title and though that automatic transmissions were being dropped as a factory option on all models. Oh well. Want some of the crack I'm smokin'?

Originally Posted by bmw325

Van Hooydonk did the e65 7 series and the 6 series as well. He was the designer bgind the "bangle butt".

Exactly, which is why BMW designs will continue to be fugly. The designer behind the only current attractive BMW, the e92, was Bangle. The "bangled butt" as it's called is what kept me from buying a 5 series almost 5 years ago. What could have been a beautiful car was uglified with the butt and the extended headlights. And the 6 series, don't even get me started, is just hideous.