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    Jan 13, 2006 12:34:57 AM

    nberry Offline
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    nberry
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    Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    It is being reported in the Wall Street journal that BMW management feels vindicated in appointing Bangle as their chief design officer. Their reason; apparently other car manufacturers are copying his designs and they are becoming the present and future standard in the industry.

    Of course, Porschephiles need not concern themselves with this news. Design changes for Porsche are an anathema to their corporate philosphy.

    Jan 13, 2006 1:11:34 AM

    0two9
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    I still hate the 7 series. To me- the audi simply did the exact same thing- but pulled it off better-- they both have led's, they both have lights that can turn, they both have communication systems that are good- they both have great technology, they are both 6 speeds.

    -The New S class, and the new lexus are copies of the 7 series. The S class with it's version of the I drive is hilarious b/c it is a blatant copy of an idea- just look at the dash board. The new LS looks like it copies from everything- AGAIN. It looks like it is part nissan, part bmw, and part audi--- but yeah, people are copying bmw for some reason.

    Audi simply hasn't changed. Their A6 looks like a larger versin of their older A4. Their A4 looks outdated but yet is only like 3 years old. The A8 looks good but just not too exciting...Mercedes on the other hand.. they at least have AMG to help them out.

    Jan 13, 2006 1:39:42 AM

    911fan
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    Reply to: 0two9

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    I like Bangles stuff. The rear deck of the 7 was dumb, but the fascia on his cars are awesome.

    Jan 13, 2006 3:22:25 AM

    DamienL
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    Reply to: 911fan

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    I'm actually starting to warm up to the styling a little. I started to appreciate it after spending some time with a new 5-series. It's certainly not pretty, but I wouldn't call it ugly anymore. I just looked at the new LS and S-class and there is a clear Bangle influence in both (I actually confused the LS with the 7 from pics of side).
    It also seems that a lot of BMW owners actually like the styling a lot, and they're apparently selling more cars than ever.

    Jan 13, 2006 9:16:53 AM

    zzbobaA
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    Reply to: nberry

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    nberry said:
    It is being reported in the Wall Street journal that BMW management feels vindicated in appointing Bangle as their chief design officer. Their reason; apparently other car manufacturers are copying his designs and they are becoming the present and future standard in the industry.




    this is right.
    nearly no non-BMW concept car without flaming surfaces.

    at least he gave BMW a new, own direction -- while e.g. audi design is going nowhere.

    next to bangle cars, other cars look old IMO.

    Jan 13, 2006 9:58:32 AM

    FutchM
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    Reply to: zzbobaA

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    zzboba said:
    this is right.
    nearly no non-BMW concept car without flaming surfaces.

    at least he gave BMW a new, own direction -- while e.g. audi design is going nowhere.

    next to bangle cars, other cars look old IMO.



    I get your point. BMW went a whole new path whereas the others merely did an evolution of their corporate design. Both work IMO, more choice for the clients.
    The new S class is indeed a copy of the 7 series, at least, inside, but they've done it better. Not original but at least it works, can't blame them for that.
    I quite like the new Audis but I agree with you Zz, if it wasn't for the new front grille, the cars would look a lot like the old ones.
    BMW has soften its 7 series, it's better now actually but still out of proportion IMO, the trunk is really small compared to the rest of the car especially in LWB version.
    Best Bemmer today is the 5 series, good blend of traditionalism and innovation, I like it. 3 series is just bland in comparison.

    Jan 13, 2006 10:38:00 AM

    ISUK Offline
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    Reply to: FutchM

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    The 3 series was reputedly toned down though at the request of senior management after the initial hostil reactions to the 7 then the 5. They didn't want to get such negative press on their biggest seller. I wonder what it would have looked like had the stuck to the more radical proposals?

    I find myself going the opposite direction on BMW's styling to the majority and really cooling off it. I really liked it early on a bought one of the very first Z4's in the UK and had a new model 5 series at launch then a new 3 series at launch. With the exception of the Z4 which has a horrendous ride quality due to over firm damping on the suspension coupled with 18" wheels and run flat tyres, the new generation cars are superb to drive. My only gripes were centred around the reduction in perceived quality of the interior of the 5 which used plastics that didn't have good surface texturing. The 3 is better in this respect and I think the 5 has been steadily improved as well though it's still not great. Perhaps it is just over familiarity with the designs now as there are literally thousands of these cars on UK roads now so they no longer look cutting edge. I've really gone off the Z4 though. The Boxster is a much more cohesive and classic design IMHO.

    Jan 13, 2006 10:44:49 AM

    chickencurry
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    Reply to: ISUK

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Nobody does styling like the Italians

    Jan 13, 2006 11:16:46 AM

    vinnie
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    Reply to: chickencurry

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    chickencurry said:
    Nobody does styling like the Italians



    Very true, not just for cars but Jewellery and fashion. Italians seen to have a natural flair in knowing what looks good. Great designers with great passion.

    Jan 13, 2006 11:22:44 AM

    ISUK Offline
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    Reply to: chickencurry

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    chickencurry said:
    Nobody does styling like the Italians



    You must be in the US where only the luxury brand Italians are sold. If you were in Europe you'd know that the Italians are just as capable of coming up with bad designs i.e. - Alfa Romeo with the 166, Fiat with the Multipla, Croma, & the Stilo, Lancia with the Lybra & the Thesis. Sales of all 3 brands have been falling in Europe due to these bad designs. Fiat are pinning their hopes on the new Grand Punto which has a similar front end design to the Maserati 4200 (unsurprising as both were penned by Gigiuaro). The Ferrari 612 is also somewhat visually challenging shall we say to most people.

    Jan 13, 2006 2:46:41 PM

    AJVIP
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    Reply to: ISUK

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Bangle=disgusting BMW designs

    End of story.

    Jan 13, 2006 2:57:00 PM

    Ryan in SD
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    Reply to: AJVIP

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    I think just before bangle got in, BMW was looking its finest. I understand what hes trying to do but it just aint working.

    Jan 13, 2006 7:19:49 PM

    igzaklee
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    Reply to: Ryan in SD

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    incredibly ironic (and rather pathetic) for Mercedes new S-class to become blatant copy of the Bangle Bimmers...

    Jan 14, 2006 10:12:53 AM

    dhayek Offline
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    Reply to: chickencurry

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    chickencurry said:
    Nobody does styling like the Italians


    tottaly agree....and nobody does quality like the germans..

    Jan 14, 2006 4:40:12 PM

    SVNSVN
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    Reply to: dhayek

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh





    And I like the new designs!

    Jan 14, 2006 5:07:57 PM

    vinnie
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    Reply to: dhayek

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    dhayek said:
    Quote:
    chickencurry said:
    Nobody does styling like the Italians


    tottaly agree....and nobody does quality like the germans..



    That's why its hard to top the act of Lamborghini and Pagani, German quality with Italian Passion and design.

    Jan 14, 2006 7:08:37 PM

    Crash
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    Reply to: ISUK

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    ISUK said:
    Quote:
    chickencurry said:
    Nobody does styling like the Italians



    You must be in the US where only the luxury brand Italians are sold. If you were in Europe you'd know that the Italians are just as capable of coming up with bad designs i.e. - Alfa Romeo with the 166, Fiat with the Multipla, Croma, & the Stilo, Lancia with the Lybra & the Thesis. Sales of all 3 brands have been falling in Europe due to these bad designs. Fiat are pinning their hopes on the new Grand Punto which has a similar front end design to the Maserati 4200 (unsurprising as both were penned by Gigiuaro). The Ferrari 612 is also somewhat visually challenging shall we say to most people.



    I like the 166, as I also like the Stilo and the Croma. I agree about the Lancias though...

    Jan 14, 2006 9:08:04 PM

    bostonmini
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    Reply to: dhayek

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    ....nobody does quality like germans? the quality has been AWFUL as of late, the japanese kill them.

    Jan 14, 2006 10:27:42 PM

    RCA
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    Reply to: bostonmini

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    bostonmini said:
    ....nobody does quality like germans? the quality has been AWFUL as of late, the japanese kill them.



    Surprisingly, the latest ADAC quality reports tell a different story. Japanese cars were among the best over the past years. I can give only Porsche as an example since I was following their "changes" since 1996. Quality has improved a lot, even if people seem to complaint. Just a question: how many people were on the Internet back in 1996, discussing cars? So even if it may look to us that quality has degraded, it hasn't, on the contrary. Only Mercedes has done a pretty bad job especially with their new E-class and the old A-class but I think that a new area started there too. BMW still seems to have some electronics issues but nothing really bad anymore. Quality is improving...we're just talking more about problems.

    Jan 14, 2006 11:14:51 PM

    Turbo Al Offline
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    Reply to: RCA

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    RC said:
    Quote:
    bostonmini said:
    ....nobody does quality like germans? the quality has been AWFUL as of late, the japanese kill them.



    Surprisingly, the latest ADAC quality reports tell a different story. Japanese cars were among the best over the past years. I can give only Porsche as an example since I was following their "changes" since 1996. Quality has improved a lot, even if people seem to complaint. Just a question: how many people were on the Internet back in 1996, discussing cars? So even if it may look to us that quality has degraded, it hasn't, on the contrary. Only Mercedes has done a pretty bad job especially with their new E-class and the old A-class but I think that a new area started there too. BMW still seems to have some electronics issues but nothing really bad anymore. Quality is improving...we're just talking more about problems.



    I agree with RC here, and not just because of his nationality, but another issue is it isn't proper to compare Porsche/Merc/BMW/Audi to the rice-burners, at least in the latter, the rank-and-file basic transportation 4-bangers which are designed merely to go from point A to B without regard to performance-as in the former. The way I push my 996TTS, many burners would have problems. And my sister's Honda SUV and my father's Scoobie Outback have given them a few headaches. Not that I'm denigrating Japanese cars, I just think the expectations of owners of German sports cars are higher.

    Jan 15, 2006 12:49:33 AM

    bostonmini
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    Reply to: Turbo Al

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    IMHO, lexus is completely competitive with the top euro brands; its not a "rice burner" the sound system is superb, ride excellent, plenty of power; and I like many european cars, just cant stand ppl saying "but its a german car" when the product is inferior. The MB is really what i was referring to; i remember I went to see an S class when they first came out, and compared to the previous gen, it was terrible. that and the window rattled on the showroom floor.

    Jan 17, 2006 5:50:55 PM

    AJVIP
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    Reply to: bostonmini

    Re: Chris Bangle may be having the last laugh

    Quote:
    bostonmini said:
    IMHO, lexus is completely competitive with the top euro brands; its not a "rice burner" the sound system is superb, ride excellent, plenty of power; and I like many european cars, just cant stand ppl saying "but its a german car" when the product is inferior. The MB is really what i was referring to; i remember I went to see an S class when they first came out, and compared to the previous gen, it was terrible. that and the window rattled on the showroom floor.



    Maybe competitive, but there is no way I am taking one of their cars (with the Toyota logo etched on their windows!!!) over an S-Class, an A8, and even a 7 series. If I wanted an oversized Toyota Avalon, I would get one and save some cash.
     
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