What do you think about the styling of the new BMW 7-series ? although I start getting used to it now, it still occurs too pointless to me. BMW's traditional evolutionary design worked very well throughout all the years, and it is very important for a premium marque remains consistent in design and image. While the whole world is still enjoying how the current 3 and 5-series look, design chief Chris Bangle said customers would get tired of that one day thus he had to revolutionize the whole design theme. He destroyed the good old things and introduced odd headlamps, the oddest interpretation of double-kidney grille and an awful boot lid. It seems that no one else in the world (including his colleague engineers) agree with how he see beauty. Everybody - from customers, car journalists to designers - criticized the car and wondered why BMW had to destroy what made it so successful for decades. In Chinese saying, we describe this as "Breaking your own Great Wall".
Unsurprisingly, Mr. Bangle defended. He said a new-age BMW has to have a fresh face (so why must it be so ugly ?). He said the high boot lid is required to maintain a low shoulder line without introducing high aerodynamic lift. In short, he has excuses for every unconvincing design details. Face it, tricky answers won't convince people. Ugly is ugly. We feel that by our hearts.
If not enough to prove that Mr. Bangle is the world's worst car design chief, let's look at his other inventions: the so-called retro Z3 and Z8 which made James Bond like a fool, the pseudo circular headlamps of 3-series Compact, the Z9 GT concept, the X Coupe concept and the spy photos of next-generation Z3, 5-series and 6-series. With these ugly things, BMW's future is really in doubt despite of its engineering excellence.
A message to BMW chairman Joachim Milberg: fire this guy.
Look at its neighbour Mercedes and Audi, they hire the best designers in the industry. It's not difficult to headhunt a few of them to Munich.
This is just a friendly suggestion to BMW, as most of us are BMW's fans. We don't want to see one of the most desirable marques destroyed in the hand of Chris Bangle.
Mark Wan
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Copied from: AutoZine
http://home.netvigator.com/~europa/Main_Menu.htm
I personally admire and respect Mr Wan for creating and constantly updating his great AutoZine page for years all by himself. Take a look at the AutoZine technical school for instance and you will understand what I mean.
His point of view is well taken. I dislike the current 7er styling and am afraid that the design philosophy will pass on to the next 3er and 5er series.
I know that we all have been discussing this Chris Bangle subject for quite a while but I just wanna make everyone know that there are people out there (and some automotive journalist, on paycheck or for personal hobby) who still cares about BMW's design future.
Taffy
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