BMW designer Bangle Butt quits

[NoHeat]

I'd heard about this guy before, Christopher Bangle, who styled cars for BMW. A lot of car fanatics despised his designs, and they called his car trunks a "Bangle Butt."

 

Well, he quit a couple of days ago, and the news articles that tell about this mention that he also had a hand in designing BMW motorcycles.

 

Anybody know which Motorrad design features are his? Maybe a Bangle Bar, or a Bangle Battery Box or something?

 

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/controversial-bmw-designer-quits/?apage=2

[outpost22]

Don't know what MC's he had a hand in, but am glad he's not emasculating any further Bimmers. I had an M3 and a 330CI that thankfully weren't his creations.

[RPG]

I thoguht Robb did the Motorcycle stuff.

 

RPG

[KDeline]

I wonder if he had a hand in designing the ugly late model RT?

[pbbeck]

The ST headlight.

[IanW]

I wonder if he had a hand in designing the ugly late model RT?

 

I hope they hire an Italian in his place.

Ian

[Dave_in_TX]

I wonder if he had a hand in designing the ugly late model RT?

 

I'd hardley call the 1150RT a late model.

[moshe_levy]

I'm no fan of "Bangle Butt" either, but there's now no denying his influence. Every car from the Camry to the S-class has an imitation of the 7-Series Bangle Butt, and that 7 was the best selling 7 ever. Can't deny the guy's success, even though I can't stand the styling either.

 

-MKL

[Silver Surfer/AKAButters]

Great! Now I can replace the 540.

[mistercindy]

Its hard to judge the guy. In 25 years or so we'll look back on his cars with a different perspective. We don't yet know if we'll view them as ugly 70s era leisure suits, or the classic Brooks Brothers suit designed in the 30s and still sold today. The BMW 3 and 5 series had gone through evolutionary changes for decades, and maybe it was time for a revolutionary change. IMHO that's the case with the 911. Porsche has done about all it can with it, and its time to make the Cayman the flagship with all those potent 911 engines (just my $0.02). In any event, whatever you think of Bangle, he has influenced other car designs.

 

IMHO the Bangled 5-series is his worst creation. The trunk is a good half foot or so higher than the hood, so when you look at it in profile it looks like two different cars have been soldered together. Its been out several years now its never grown on me like I thought it might. Also, the Bangled "Z" configuration on the sides of the original Z3 was a bit too pronounced for my tastes. I prefer the comparatively mellow Z4.

 

But, I like the new 3-series (in the interest of full disclosure, I drive an '08 328i coupe). The lines are much cleaner and simpler than the 5-series. I read that Bangle was pressured to keep it toned down because the 3-series is BMW's biggest market and they didn't want to alienate so many buyers.

[Dousta]

I've owned both 3 series and 5 series BMW's but was so turned off by Bangle's styling that I turned to the Audi A4 Quattro and have become a committed Audi fan ever since.

[Mike]

The ST headlight.

 

The K-GT side fairing.

 

Actually, this is kind of on point. When I first saw photos of the ST, I vomited a little in my mouth. Once I saw it in person, I softened a little, then I bought one, then I ended up actually liking the styling. Same with the K-GT. I wasn't too enamored of it at first, but somehow your brain ends up accepting new styling cues after a while. Nonetheless, I still don't think that any of BMW's motorcycle designs from '05 on hold a candle to the R11xx RT.

 

I've found over time that many styling elements that are off-putting at first tend to grow on you. Having said that, I still find the Bangle Butt to be a little weird, even though I'm more accustomed to it.

[ollka]

 

 

I hope they hire an Italian in his place.

Ian

 

And well get German version of Ducati Multistrada?

I hope not.

 

In real life I´d say that ST,RT and GS are among the most ugliest bikes ever made when lookin at the front.

ST was ripped from Star Trek, RT from loonie toonie house and GS is propably one eyed Jack found from the back yard of local bar.

 

But so what, I have enough self respect to ride the ugliest bike - and I dont see it while ridin...

[Pilgrim]

The ST headlight.

 

. . . but somehow your brain ends up accepting new styling cues after a while.

 

I've found over time that many styling elements that are off-putting at first tend to grow on you.

 

All you gotta do is look at some guys' girlfriends or wives (or both) to realize the truth of that statement.

Pilgrim

 

[pbbeck]

The ST headlight.

 

The K-GT side fairing.

 

Actually, this is kind of on point. When I first saw photos of the ST, I vomited a little in my mouth. Once I saw it in person, I softened a little, then I bought one, then I ended up actually liking the styling. Same with the K-GT. I wasn't too enamored of it at first, but somehow your brain ends up accepting new styling cues after a while. Nonetheless, I still don't think that any of BMW's motorcycle designs from '05 on hold a candle to the R11xx RT.

 

I've found over time that many styling elements that are off-putting at first tend to grow on you. Having said that, I still find the Bangle Butt to be a little weird, even though I'm more accustomed to it.

 

Touché. Actually, I couldn't agree with you more about the ST and the GT.

[AviP]

That's great news. I just hated the Bangle Butt, not that I was buying a BMW. Looks like he's gone to Audi. Seen the new A4. Yuck!