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Controversial BMW design boss Bangle quits car industry

Posted by Hootan Mahallati | February 03, 2009 | In bmw news

Chris Bangle

The American BMW Group Chief of Design, Chris Bangle, is quitting in order to "pursue his own design-related endeavors beyond the auto industry," according to BMW. Dutchman Adrian van Hooydonk, head of design for the BMW brand, will take over Bangle's role. Bangle, who started at BMW in 1992, oversaw corporate design for BMW, MINI, and Rolls Royce, is one the most controversial and yet influential designers of the last decade, inspiring anti-Bangle websites calling for him to step down.

Bangle was criticized for the shocking, angular look of recent BMWs, starting with the previous generation BMW 7-Series. While many BMW fans despised the new design direction of BMW, the company was unequivocally supportive of his brief to revolutionize BMW design. In fact, BMW may have had the last word because competitors like Mercedes, Audi and Cadillac have all taken cues from themes Bangle introduced.

It is widely reported that BMW like a cycle of design revolution before a cycle of design evolution, which means we should not expect another tectonic shift in the company's design under van Hooydonk.

2 Comment(s)

Uncle Mark | posted 1 year, 5 months ago

Beardy Weirdies of the world unite in mourning the loss of one of their own ...

Big E | posted 1 year, 5 months ago

A true blessing!