BMW’s future design and development: Is the new avantgarde conservative?

The year 2001 was a turning point for BMW in the new millennium when it saw the release of its both smallest and largest production cars: the new MINI and the next generation 7 Series. The first one was phenomenally successful, breaking BMW’s estimated production plan in just six month, but the second one raised many eyebrows and had polarized the opinions of public like no other car before.

BMW has always used 7 Series as a showcase for its newest technologies and at the time they are presented to the world, new generation 7 Series are always one of the most technologically advanced cars in the world. The 2001 E65 7 Series was the first car in the world to have a 6-speed automatic gearbox and adaptive dampers, changing the car behavior according to road conditions and driving style.

BMW also premiered iDrive, a ground braking control interface which replaces almost all controls and buttons on the cockpit with a single joystick and a LCD screen. While the iDrive was far from perfect (some journalists complained that it was too distracting to use while driving) Mercedes-Benz and Audi systems were heavily based on it when they emerged several years later.

But the most striking feature of the new car was its controversial design, credit of BMW’s former design chief Chris Bangle. He tried to revolutionize the classic BMW features, therefore introduced a new headlamp shape whose upper edge incorporated indicator lamps. More controversial is the high boot lid which looks like sitting on the rear end rather than embedded into it (later found on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class). Despite extremely negative fan reactions, E65 7 Series remains the best selling generation ever, specially after its 2006 facelift (which toned down Bangle’s radical original styling) and has set a new standard in handling and performance for luxury sedans.

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thetruth01 - 8/31/2009 4:31:17 PM

+1 Boost

puff piece

LexSucks - 8/31/2009 5:58:13 PM

-2 Boost

BMW switching its design direction again? its obvious that the Bangle BMWs were the worse designed BMWs of all time. Glad to see that BMW has got its senses back.

The current 5 series is awful. Even a face lift cant save it. that's why it never got one.

WorldofLuxury - 8/31/2009 7:06:46 PM

+7 Boost

Well... look at how successful BMW became because of Bangle? If it weren't for him, we'd still think that the car of the future is a round ball without edges. If it weren't for him, the most design we'd see on the side of a mass-produced car are moldings on flat surfaces with some air vents here and there.

I still think that the original E65/E66 was a beautiful car, and I'm still the only one getting deboosted for saying that the S-class interior mock-up of the 7.

Of course there were lots of practicality and intuitiveness problems, but that's expected from a pioneering car.

JB007 - 9/1/2009 9:33:21 AM

+4 Boost

LexSucks, The 5 Series (current generation E60) has already had its facelift in 2007. Not much was altered, because there was no need to. This car still looks modern on the roads almost 7 years on and at the very end of it's life cycle.

rxh8me9000 - 8/31/2009 8:18:35 PM

+6 Boost

Um I actually think Bangles designs were the best.

Yonder7 - 8/31/2009 8:25:16 PM

0 Boost

Lets be honest...BMW was doing well till they decide to bring the X6 and GTs series...time will say who´s right, but for now I forsee a bad future for BMW.

BondMI6 - 8/31/2009 9:58:27 PM

0 Boost

I agree............Bangle wasn't all that bad. The new 7 series looks VERY similar to a fish (read Grouper) from the front. Small eyes, HUGE mouth (read kidneys and lower front air dam) very bald and ugly. And yes, that's from seeing it in person. The back looks very Lexus........so.........wake UP! They are trying to hard to cater to the Asian market (Thus the design language) and it is making those in the Western Hemisphere a little disinterested in the shape. The new 5er seems to be more of a return to basic BMW aggressive yet conservative designs so we'll see...........

vdiv - 8/31/2009 10:39:38 PM

+1 Boost

For better or for worse BMW designs became provocative and polarizing with Bangle. There was beauty and tranquility in the simple lines and harmonious shapes of the prior designs. Bangle's philosophy disrupted all that.

The real tragedy has been the change of emphasis to style over substance, appearance over action, exterior perception over interior belonging. The cars became a megaphone for the driver's ego and a reaction of their insecurity and arrogance, rather than a promoter of shared joy, exhilaration and perennial wonder.

Then again, as generations change so does appeal, yet BMW remains one of the trend-setters for young people who appreciate performance, as well as perfection.

How's this as a fluff piece? :)

Cary - 9/7/2009 11:03:47 AM

+1 Boost

Bangle pushed the exterior styling forward several steps, and it's pretty obvious from the new 7, that the next series of models will take a step back. That's fine by me, as much as I appreciate the angularity of Bangle's designs, and the fact that he was the revolutionary that got them done, I don't personally like the look of his cars that much. I want BMW to return to making modern, but elegant, cars. I'm also fine with them stuffing as much tech as possible into the vehicle, but it should be almost invisible to the driver.