Which BMW designer did the new 3-Series convertible? Auto Spies Exclusive

If you were to ask me my favorite thing about the Detroit Auto Show, it wouldn't be the show, the parties or even the Auto Spies groupies and models fighting for our attention.





My answer would be the Spies tradition of noshing with two of our favorite car designers at the Ritz-Carlton, BMW's Chris Bangle and Adrian Von Hooydonk.

Both of them are not only a real asset to BMW, but they are the indisputable kingpins and envy of EVERY other car designer in the business.

We even found out this year that Chris is an artist outside of his job at BMW and just as creative in that endeavor. He had his own gallery show in Munich recently with people bidding large sums of money for his work.

We all read the rumors about who runs the design show at BMW but the Spies can tell you it is truly a team effort and all of the team has trememdous respect for one another.

A perfect example came when I asked Adrian who designed the new 3-Series convertible.





Without hesitation, he credited his teammates and gave the ultimate credit to Chris.

So this beautiful piece of art is a definitely a 'Bangle'.

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding his designs in the past, but no one can dispute this is one gorgeous new ride.

Great job Chris, Adrian and team!

And thank you for taking the time to be part of our favorite tradition at the Detroit Auto Show.









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M53R - 1/13/2007 2:38:59 AM

+7 Boost

Ha, did any1 say bangle doesnt know how to design? Or that he should b fired? Well look !! He designed the best looking car at the bmw line up!! Bangel rox!!!

silverarrow2 - 1/14/2007 11:15:25 AM

+3 Boost

I guest Lexus should hire him to design their F**ked up line. F**ked up= F.

SixxFive - 1/13/2007 2:53:44 AM

+7 Boost

Thanks Agent 001 - great article. BMW really has pushed car design forward and while opinions may differ more now than before, it has definitely pushed the BMW brand forward in a industry of followers.

MunichRob - 1/13/2007 3:38:28 AM

+6 Boost

If I were in Chris Bangle's shoes, I'd be on the "see I told you so" note right now.

His name is currently bigger than any other automotive designer in the industry, and his designs are currently the most copied. An Aston Martin may be the most appealing car to look at on the road, but a BMW is by far the most interesting to look at.

While I will say he screwed up on the 745li, Z4 roadster, 5-series, X3 & the taillights on the 3er sedan...I still feel his designs are the most interesting to look at, an interest in which will last as long as you own the vehicle.

t_bone - 1/13/2007 9:00:35 AM

-1 Boost

Insomuch as this car looks 90% like an e46 they have done a good job. All they did was freshen it up.

Make no mistake, this team was probably bummed that they can't be slicing and dicing up lines and mixing up shapes at random as they did a few years ago.

Henrik Fisker's (Z8 designer, now at Aston Martin) cat makes better lines in his litterbox sand than the whole of BMW's current design team.

But these new 3's are OK despite it.

mstangpny07 - 1/13/2007 9:30:23 AM

+2 Boost

Well now let's hope he can fix the sedan's quirks! Great job on the 3 cabrio. Who did the new X5?
BTW, I'm going to the BMW dealer today. I'll let you know what happens.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/13/2007 10:53:37 AM

+2 Boost

I'm pretty sure van Hooydonk penned the X5- he has been know to design the more straight-laced models (not as curved), such as the X3, 6 Series and 7 Series. I like the 6, 7 and new X5, but the X3 is questionable.

Agent004 - 1/13/2007 2:32:40 PM

+2 Boost

I agree on the X3, S4 - but I don't think either of us are the target market for that car. It's a shame they chose that market to target, but you also can't have it take away sales from their X5 line. I see a TON of X3's around the northeast, so they are definitely selling, but I also notice who is driving them, and who is driving the X5s and there are definitive patterns.

Chip-

mstangpny07 - 1/13/2007 2:57:40 PM

+3 Boost

------------------UPDATE---------------

I am on the list for a 2007 X5 3.0si, delivery April 2007.
Silver/Black w/ premium pack, cold weather, technology, rear climate.
The 2003 X5 will be gone next week. It was a great suv. :(
But the new one is better! :)

AmazingBimmer - 1/13/2007 10:22:49 AM

-3 Boost

mstang.. buy one.. they are great. the best, jerry, the best!

mstangpny07 - 1/13/2007 10:49:43 AM

+3 Boost

99.9 % probability. It drives absolutley amazing! I joined X5world.com, which is a great BMW website.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/13/2007 10:54:08 AM

0 Boost

He already has one, you idiot- he's trading in an old X5!

What stake do you have in BMW? You seem like a car salesman.

TimE - 1/13/2007 12:44:23 PM

+5 Boost

Guys, Adrian van Hooydonk is a chief designer of BMW Automobile branch, while Chris Bangle is a chief designer of entire BMW group ( = BMW Automobile, BMW M & Individual, BMW Motorcycles, MINI, Rolls-Royce).

Also do not forget the role of BMW Automobile exterior design chief Boyke Boyer, and his mate responsible for the interiors: Michael Ninic.

And chief designers do not pen the car's exteriors / interiors, but organize, lead & monitor the design process.

The current BMWs were penned (initial sketches) by the following BMW designers:

E65/6 7er - Adrian van Hooydonk (before he was promoted)
E63/4 6er - Adrian van Hooydonk (before he was promoted); (interior by Dave Carp)
E85/6 Z4 - Anders Warming
E83 X3 - Geoff Velasco
E87 1er - Chris Chapman
E60/1 5er - Davide Arcangeli
E90/1 3er sedan / touring - Joji Nagashima (interior by Matthias Hoffman - as well as E92/3)
E92/3 3er coupe / cabrio - Marc Michael Markefka
E70 X5 - Pierre Leclercq (interior by Oliver Heilmer)

S4cabriofoxone - 1/13/2007 3:25:37 PM

+3 Boost

I know, van Hooydonk is known to have designed the more straight-laced models; the 6/7/X3. Bangle is for the more curvaceous cars.

alfistiDK - 1/13/2007 3:51:05 PM

+3 Boost

I´m sure most people admire what chris bangle has done in his career, but I still liked the "pre bangle" models a lot more though..the old E46 etc is still way better looking than any newer 3 series, its just too japanese mainstream looking for my taste. I dont want to join the bangle bash corps, its just a waste of time, cause no doubt he has been good for bmw financially wise.

Matthew1 - 1/13/2007 10:22:48 PM

+3 Boost

huu76,

Take your pills.

matt635 - 1/14/2007 1:50:35 PM

+2 Boost

I love BMW's always have and I don't see anything to put me off yet. But recent designs have been more challenging, there are aspects of the cars styling I don't like, but typically it's just smaller details, rather than overall shapes etc.

1 series tail lamps are too bland (people who have experienced owning a 2002 with circular tail-lamps should know what I mean with this)
3 series saloon tail lamps are aweful.
Chrome bits above the kidneys on 3er saloon and on the 6er look wrong and are unnecessary.
5 & 6 series need more 'aggresive' chins.
5er touring taillamps are rubbish, they spoil the whole car.
7 series headlamps are terrible, they were better before he mid-term facelift!
Z4 kidney grille and headlamps, but the shape of the car is fantastic.
X3's hoffmeister kink is wrong somehow.

If I were in charge of BMW styling these are the things I would change.

FWIW, I think the current 5 in sport trim (or M5) is one of the best looking BMW's of all time. I really cannot see why it takes so much flack!

matt635 - 1/14/2007 4:32:58 PM

+2 Boost

Well when I look at the snowplough front bumper on my E24 I can't help but miss that agressive shark nose. IMO the M6 looks how the standard 6 series should look, and for the M they could have, errrm, err... hmmm, put a wing on it?... hmm maybe you have a point!

matt635 - 1/14/2007 4:37:34 PM

+2 Boost

So then, since we are on the subject of BMW design, what do you thnk is the best looking of BMW's cars

The questions open to everyone, but flamers, please don't bother!

Some of my favourites would have to be (in no particular order):

E24 6 series (mid eighties with chrome wrap around bumpers - like mine :)),
E38 7 series (in sport trim),
E60 M5,
Z8,
E30 M3 (I think the Cecottos looked good),
E31 8-series.
E46 M3 GT-R (street legal version)
E9 3.0CSL (with Wings)

(and the BMW Brabham BT52 if that counts!)

Rupert - 1/14/2007 5:17:17 PM

+2 Boost

i love the 1994-2002 7 series (after the 1999 facelift), the Z8, the Z3, the 1993-2000 3er convertible, the 198?-1996 5er touring and the 80's 6 series.
those would be my favorites. the Z3, while girly, does look good.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/14/2007 9:47:02 PM

+2 Boost

Some of my favorites:

I agree with Rupert on the 740/750 facelift- one of the coolest-looking sedans ever. I feel like the current A8 is more like the previous 7 Series than the current model is, in its sleek-ness. I also liked the previous 5 Series facelift a lot; just a mini-7. I loved the Z8; there's a silver Z8 Alpina in my area that I see occasionally. I have not approved of any other "Z" model, however. The new 3 Series coupe is one of the most beautiful BMWs of the last decade, and the E46 M3 still looks good. There are plenty more- but not on the top of my head.

Loki123 - 1/15/2007 9:55:47 AM

-1 Boost

It is interesting to see an American as BMW Chief of design. It is equally as interesting to see his Dutch protégé Adrian van Hooydonk designing for the German company. A few of the models (X5, Z4) are even built in South Carolina.

Which gets me to my point and makes one wonder - How German is BMW anyway?

Loki123 - 1/15/2007 10:33:01 AM

-1 Boost

"Try something new" is a pretty safe answer.

For a company and a following that like to distance themselves from "all things American" - seems kind of funny to have an American calling the shots on what these "so-called" German cars will look like.

alfistiDK - 1/26/2007 3:42:54 PM

+1 Boost

These companies have used foreign designers for ages, its not something new or special.