| Chief designer leaves automaker The chief designer of the German automaker BMW, Chris Bangle, known for his unconventional stylistic solutions, may soon leave the company. Yesterday on the website bmw.carclub.ru, with reference to sources at BMW headquarters in Munich, information appeared that Mr. Bangle will remain in his post only until the launch of the 1st Series (will compete with VW Golf and Opel Astra) this fall.
Observers are convinced that after the American Chris Bangle headed the team of BMW stylists ten years ago, an era of revolutionary changes in the design of cars of the famous Bavarian brand has begun. Mr. Bangle was not only responsible for the design of the 3-, 5- and 7-Series, but also led the creation of the BMW X5 and BMW X3, the 6-Series coupe and convertible recently officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.
The designer’s militant radicalism was met with ambiguity both by the management of the concern and by the Bavarians committed to traditional values: Mr. Bangle’s test step was the executive BMW 7 Series, the potential buyers of which are distinguished by the greatest conservatism. At the presentation in Munich in 2001, even journalists were confused by the unusual shape of the new “seven” (unusual headlights extending onto the wings, changed body proportions, etc.). The controversy surrounding the design continues to this day.
Another sensation that added to Mr. Bangle's fame was the Z4 roadster, which debuted in September 2002 at the Paris Motor Show. “This car left no one indifferent: at first sight it evokes either delight or active rejection, there is no third option,” experts described the new product.
As Mr. Bangle states, he “did everything I could for this brand (BMW. - Ed.),” and now it was time for a new project manager. According to a source in the concern, the main reason for the departure of the chief designer is the disagreements that arose with BMW management. Apparently, Mr. Bangle's radical experimental spirit went against the evolutionary concept of the automaker's development, as well as the conservative preferences of respectable customers.
The twice-redesigned BMW X5 initially featured sporty lines and square headlights, not unlike the new 5, sources said. But by the time the car was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, its appearance had been revised to become more conservative. The 7 Series will also undergo a facelift, which, as expected, will receive new headlights and the rear of the car will acquire more traditional features.
In the spring of 2005, another brainchild of Mr. Bangle will hit the market - the next-generation BMW 3-Series with the E90 index in the sedan body. However, already today, pre-production samples, according to auto experts, indicate that BMW chief designer Chris Bangle was prohibited from conducting any experiments on the new three-ruble car. The new generation model retains its classic shape - despite Mr. Bangle's intention to make it something radically different from the current generation (in particular, from those introduced last June). Experts agree that the Germans were afraid to scare away customers, since the 3 Series model is the best-selling model in the BMW range. Yana VIKTOROVA |
|
