BMW’s Chris Bangle Steps Down as Head of Design
BMW announced today that Chris Bangle is passing the torch as Head of Design to Adrian van Hooydonk, his right-hand man of seventeen years. Bangle will continue design work outside of the auto industry. Bangle and his team are responsible for the design of many BMW models, as well as the new Mini and Rolls-Royce models. His tenure at BMW was marked by controversial styling decisions, prompting much criticism from the brand’s enthusiasts.
Adrian van Hooydonk has worked closely with Bangle during his career at BMW, and is the former Head of the Brand Design Studio for BMW Automobiles.
Scroll down to read the official press release.
CHRISTOPHER BANGLE HANDS OVER HIS POST AS HEAD OF DESIGN AT THE BMW GROUP TO ADRIAN VAN HOOYDONK IN ORDER TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES OUTIDE THE BMW GROUP AND THE AUTO INDUSTRY
02/03/2009
Munich. Christopher E. Bangle, the BMW Group's Head of Design, has worked closely with Adrian van Hooydonk in BMW Group design development for nearly17 years. Now he is handing over his post to van Hooydonk, who is currently Head of BMW Automobile Design. "Christopher Bangle has had a lasting impact on the identity of BMW Group's brands. His contribution to the company's success has been decisive, and together with his teams he has mapped out a clear and aesthetic route into the future," said Dr Klaus Draeger, BMW AG's Board Member for Development. Dr Draeger went on to explain that the BMW Group was currently "in an excellent position", thanks to a broad portfolio of automobiles and several new vehicle concepts due for market launch in the coming months and years. The BMW AG Management Board, he added, is looking forward to working with van Hooydonk as Head of BMW Group Design - a man who shares Bangle's fascination for technology and aesthetics, tradition and innovation. Dr Draeger affirmed that van Hooydonk would be in a position to continue to build on a design philosophy, which extends across the BMW Group's brands. Bangle's plan to pursue his own design-related endeavours beyond the auto industry marks the start of a new phase in his life while maintaining strong ties with the BMW Group.
Over the years numerous designs for new vehicles and vehicle concepts have been developed under Christopher Bangle's leadership. As well as continuing the BMW 3, 5 and 7 Series, he and his teams were responsible for a range of other models, including the BMW Z3, BMW Z4, BMW X5, BMW Z8, BMW X3, the new BMW 6 Series, the BMW X6 and the BMW 1 Series. Other developments under the auspices of Christopher Bangle include the new MINI and Rolls-Royce models and a number of innovative motorcycle concepts. During his tenure, Christopher Bangle was also instrumental in making the company's consultancy subsidiary, BMW Group DesignworksUSA, what it is today: a global design agency in North America, Munich and Singapore for leading international brands and companies in a wide variety of industries.
Thanks to their outstanding design quality numerous products from all three of the BMW Group's automobile brands have won a host of renowned awards from around the world. Bangle has always had a special aptitude for working with his teams to strengthen the identities and unmistakable images of the BMW Group's brands and to inspire design innovations, said Dr Draeger, Board Member for Development. Over the years he has received a dozen patents for his technical applications and design. These, along with the one hundred additional patents awarded to the BMW Group Design under Bangle's auspices, are a testimony to his creative and innovative power.
Born in the USA, Christopher Bangle, aged 52, has been Head of BMW Group Design Development since October 1992. After studying at the University of Wisconsin and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he began his working life in Rüsselsheim, where he worked for Adam Opel AG. In 1985 he joined FIAT, where he became Director of the FIAT Centro Stile in 1992. Shortly afterwards he left the Italian automaker to come to Munich.
Throughout his career with the BMW Group Bangle's right-hand man has been Adrian van Hooydonk, who is now set to become his successor. He described van Hooydonk as "truly a top professional in our business," adding, "I am sure that the many strong design strategies he has helped us create for the BMW Group will continue to develop and evolve."
Adrian van Hooydonk, aged 44, will take over as Director of BMW Group Design with immediate effect. In his new position he will be responsible for design development for the BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI brands. Born in the Netherlands, van Hooydonk studied at Delft Polytechnic University in Holland and later at the Art Center Europe in Vevey, Switzerland, until 1992. From there he came to Munich, where he joined BMW as a designer. In the year 2000 he went to California to work for the BMW Group subsidiary Designworks USA. He was Director of the internationally renowned design agency from 2001 to 2004. Then, under Bangle as the BMW Group's Head of Design, he became Head of the Brand Design Studio for BMW Automobiles.
The BMW 6 Series and 7 Series lines clearly bear the hallmark of van Hooydonk's design influence, as do the Z9 Concept Car, the BMW Concept CS (unveiled in 2007) and the M1 Hommage Study. In 1997 van Hooydonk created the ACV 30 Show Car for MINI and more recently he and his team have developed the designs for the new BMW 7 Series and Z4 as well as for the Concept Progressive Activity Sedan, which celebrates its premiere at the Geneva Auto Show in early March 2009.
"I am honoured and extremely excited to take on this new responsibility", says van Hooydonk. "BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce produce the best cars and motorcycles in their segment, and I am really looking forward to being able to contribute to the future development of these brands." Speaking of his hopes for the years to come, van Hooydonk added: "I have no doubt that there are challenges ahead, but BMW's depth in engineering and the passion of its talented design team are as strong as ever. Together I am sure we will be able to create some very sophisticated and extremely attractive concepts."
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Comments
JUANCJL1
I dont like bmws. I am a M-B guy, but i can't deny the impact of Chris Bangle on the automotive world & the automotive design language.
So long Chris and good luck.
bmwloco (bikes, not cars)
Bu-bye, and don't let the door hit you the butt on the way out.
Bangle was either hot or cold with BMW aficionados. Personally, blah. But I lost interest in BMW cars after the 2002 and the 3.0 CSI, so what do I know?
chartguy
While his work never appealed to me, I did respect his creativity. Car designs were all beginning to flow toward the middle, probably best defined by Lexus, when he arrived at BMW. Bangle was willing to use elements that gave BMWs a BMW look. Love it or hate it, you knew it was a BMW. He deserves credit for that. If it weren't for Bangle, and designers willing to take chances, we'd all be driving vehicles that looked like the same melted jelly bean.
Mark in Maine
I'll have to agree with chartguy on Bangle's contributions to BMW design. I still can't stand to look at a lot of his early work for BMW, but his later efforts seem to be more cohesive. Love it or hate it is right - although one does have to appreciate his creative ideas, and the Bangle BMW's don't look like anything else on the roads . . .
BillS
Chartguy nailed it. I would add that some of his most hated stuff (e.g. 7 Series coffin trunk) has been widely copied.
ben
There isn't a luxury car out there now that hasn't been inspired by Bangle's designs.
mo
I liked his design. with his designs BMW was distinguished than any other car on the road. I hate the idea that cars are slowly becoming alike in design. That is why I like Caddy and BMW designs. Even the 7-Series back, I hated it in the beginning but my eyes got used to it after a while. Yes, the design was initially a Volvo design (the funky back), but when MB used it in the S-class you definitely know that it has a function. Overall, I think he did a great job.
Book of 911 dot Com
Never before have I been to happy as when I read this headline!
Ducati Minor
Bangle takes a lot of crap from bitchy folks on the web, but he's been handling BMW design since the early 1990s. His styling direction has corresponded to an improving reputation and sales growth. The present streamline form is a logical step in the design evolution of BMW products.
Prior to Bangle's accession, Bimmers were boxes on wheels. They were by no means attractive vehicles. There were exceptions from BMW's renaissance of the 1970s and '80s, but the run-of-the-mill vehicles were nothing grand. Bangle's direction guided the BMW form into a rounder shape that maintained a conservative appeal and preserved the understated prowess behind the German luxury/sport automobile.
The present Six has taken a lot of flack from BMW elitists and web-whiners alike. To me and thousands of non-Bimmer fans, the Six was a genuinely creative and standout form with many exquisite details and cues. The present product is the most attractive (in my eyes) in forty years.
Russ Bellinis
I don't think he really hurt BMW. There is just something in the Italian genes that seem to lead to generally outstanding design. The Germans are just more about function. Now if the Germans would just engineer the cars and let the Italians do the styling we would have the best of both worlds.
Anonymous
German engineering excellence is a myth. Apparently, there's no translation for K.I.S.S. in German.
I think Bangle nailed the proportions, but fell apart on the details.
Powderfinger
"It's always the tree that bears fruit that get's thrown with stones". Bangle is a tree full of great design ideas that he gets more than his fair share of criticism for doing this. But in the end, those who heap scorn and criticism on him has to eat their words for his ideas are currently the most copied automotive designs. Just take a look at the new Accord (its a '5' in front with a '7' trunk and '3' tail light), MB "S" series trunk, etc. etc. "Flames raising upwards" seems to be the new mantra at the new Subaru WRX as well. A lot of so called designers from other car companies have now awaken from their long stupor to find out that indeed Bangle was right. Sales data (before the current depression at least) would further support this. Wish you all the best Chris. Sure you would again create ripple in your next design adventures but then again, its the only way to move forward.
Anonymous
Just because it's copied doesn't make it good. Ask yourself this question: if those were Hyundais instead of BMWs, would you feel the same? Would they still be copied? Great design should not be dependent on a name. The Emperor's New Clothes comes to mind.
Anonymous
I recall a piece by Robert Cumberford in Automobile Magazine in the early '90s, where he wrote about design concepts done by students in Europe. One of those students was Adrian van Hooydonk, and I can still visualize the radical BMW coupe concept that he had created.
Talent often shows itself early.
I liked his comment about BMW's depth of engineering. That is the company's strength, and it bodes well for the company when its chief designer understands it.
BTW, German engineering excellence is not a myth. The cars are often complex, but they can work extremely well. It may sound odd, but my strongest impression of a 1994 530i automatic was its uncanny ability to move slowly at about 20 mph with perfect smoothness - no hesitation, surging, or other untoward behaviour. I have never experienced such sophistication in another car, and I believe that this was as much evidence of its engineering as its ability to cruise beyond 100 mph.
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