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For decades, BMW was synonymous with elegant, understated and instantly recognizable design. The brand’s cars during the 1980s and 1990s featured clean lines, balanced proportions and relatively conservative styling changes. However, that approach changed dramatically with the arrival of the new millennium and, particularly, with the influence of American designer Chris Bangle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As head of BMW’s design department, Bangle spearheaded a major styling revolution that divided opinions among enthusiasts and automotive journalists. His designs moved away from much of BMW’s traditional restraint and introduced more complex surfaces, unusual proportions and visual elements that were difficult for many longtime fans of the German automaker to accept at first.<\/p>\n With hindsight, however, perceptions have changed. Some of the BMW models that were heavily criticized when they were launched are now increasingly regarded as distinctive examples of one of the boldest periods in the company’s design history.<\/p>\n One of the clearest examples of this transformation was the BMW E65 7 Series<\/strong>, introduced in the early 2000s. The flagship had the difficult task of replacing the E38 7 Series, a car widely regarded by enthusiasts as one of the best-proportioned and most elegantly designed sedans BMW had ever produced.<\/p>\n The E38 had also gained considerable popular recognition thanks to its appearance alongside James Bond in the movie Tomorrow Never Dies<\/em>. Its successor therefore had an exceptionally high standard to meet.<\/p>\n The main source of controversy was the rear of the car. The design of the trunk lid, combined with the sweeping rear fenders and large taillights, gave rise to the now-famous nickname \u201cBangle Butt.\u201d<\/strong> Critics argued that the rear end looked disconnected from the rest of the body and represented a major departure from BMW’s traditional proportions.<\/p>\n However, the E65 was far from an isolated experiment. The new design language quickly spread throughout BMW’s lineup.<\/p>\n During Bangle’s tenure, BMW introduced models such as the E60 5 Series<\/strong> and the BMW Z4<\/strong>, two cars that also generated sharply divided opinions. Their bodies featured more pronounced surfaces, distinctive lighting elements and proportions that differed significantly from the BMWs of previous decades.<\/p>\n BMW went from a lineup dominated by relatively low, wide and understated vehicles to one filled with much more experimental designs. The goal was to give the brand a more modern identity and prepare it for a new generation of automobiles.<\/p>\n The styling revolution also coincided with a technological transformation. BMWs entering the 21st century featured increasingly sophisticated systems, from the controversial iDrive<\/strong> interface to active steering, advanced suspension technology and a growing number of electronic driver-assistance systems.<\/p>\n For some enthusiasts, the technology represented a loss of the traditional connection between driver and machine. For others, it was simply the natural evolution of BMW as the company entered a new technological era.<\/p>\n One of the defining elements of Chris Bangle’s work was a design philosophy known as \u201cflame surfacing.\u201d<\/strong> The approach relied on complex body surfaces and lines that appeared to flow across the vehicle like flames.<\/p>\n This philosophy allowed BMW’s designers to create much more dynamic volumes than those seen on earlier models. Instead of relying primarily on straight lines and flat surfaces, designers experimented with different levels, curves and transitions that changed depending on the angle from which the vehicle was viewed.<\/p>\n The effect was particularly evident on cars such as the Z4, which became one of the most recognizable BMWs of its generation.<\/p>\n Interestingly, many of the design decisions that attracted criticism two decades ago now appear much less radical when compared with some of BMW’s latest models. The oversized grilles, extremely aggressive front ends and increasingly angular bodywork seen on several modern BMWs have encouraged some enthusiasts to reconsider the styling of the Bangle era.<\/p>\n Although his name became closely associated with the controversial E65, Chris Bangle did not personally design every BMW introduced during his tenure<\/strong>. As BMW Group’s design chief, his role was to lead the design department and approve the proposals that eventually reached production.<\/p>\n Bangle joined BMW in 1992 after working as design director at Fiat, where he was involved in the creation of the acclaimed Fiat Coup\u00e9<\/strong>. Born in Ohio, United States, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin before studying design at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design in California.<\/p>\n During his time leading BMW Group design, Bangle was also involved in several major projects, including the revival of the Mini<\/strong> brand and the development of the new-generation Rolls-Royce<\/strong> following BMW’s acquisition of the luxury marque.<\/p>\n Several highly memorable BMW models also arrived during his tenure, including the E46 3 Series<\/strong>, the original E53 X5<\/strong> and the spectacular Z8<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The story of Chris Bangle’s designs demonstrates just how dramatically perceptions of automotive styling can change over time. Cars that were initially considered too radical or even unattractive can take on a different character once they are no longer judged solely against contemporary models and instead become representatives of a particular era.<\/p>\n That has happened with several BMWs from the Bangle period. The E65 7 Series remains a controversial design, but its styling no longer seems quite as shocking as it did when the car first appeared. The same can be said of the E60 5 Series and, particularly, the first-generation Z4.<\/p>\nThe BMW E65 7 Series and the Famous \u201cBangle Butt\u201d<\/h3>\n
A Design Revolution That Reached the 5 Series and Z4<\/h3>\n
The \u201cFlame Surfacing\u201d Philosophy That Changed BMW Design<\/h3>\n
Chris Bangle Did Much More Than Design the 7 Series<\/h3>\n
Time Has Changed the Way We See Bangle’s BMWs<\/h3>\n