Where Are They Now: Chris Bangle is "Drinkin' some wine, eatin' some cheese, catchin' some rays..."

Chris Bangle is a hard act to follow, even for Chris Bangle. Like him or loath him, the former BMW design director is one of the most famous car designers of our times, recognised for shaking the established status quo with his ‘flame surfacing’ and his radical take on car design.
 
Then in March 2009, after 16 solid years, Bangle announced his retirement from the Bavarian brand and – seemingly – car design. He packed suitcase and moved to an abandoned farmhouse in the Piemonte hills which he has been busy transforming into a home, a studio to house his design consultancy Chris Bangle Associates, and a vineyard at the back that will produce local dolcetto wine.
 
Surely Bangle must be up to more than making wine in Italy!
 
To find out, CAR Online caught up with Bangle...


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M53R - 12/22/2009 12:31:29 PM

+3 Boost

This man deserves respect. The whole auto industry copy his designs these days.

M53R - 12/22/2009 1:16:08 PM

+4 Boost

nah, they still do. Look at the camry and aurion with their Bangle Butts, and the accord with the flame surfacing. Those are just a few.

B7FAN - 12/22/2009 2:37:34 PM

+4 Boost

he was cheif of design for BMW from 1992-2009.....thats a hell of a run and how many people bought the BMW's he was responsible for desinging in that time frame.....I would say millions....just take a look at this:

"The most controversial of his work was the E65 7 Series, a sharp contrast to the preceding E38 generation which was conservatively styled. Time magazine named it as one of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time for its rear end styling and iDrive functionality, nonetheless it became the best-selling 7 Series of all time"

Ab311 - 12/22/2009 1:32:27 PM

+5 Boost

He should be hired as the head designer for Volvo.

B7FAN - 12/22/2009 2:26:09 PM

+5 Boost

and audi so all their cars dont look alike

pennfootball - 12/22/2009 1:47:53 PM

-3 Boost

Bangle is touching himself!

pennfootball - 12/24/2009 11:49:59 AM

+1 Boost

Are you touching yourself to car porn?

theman - 12/22/2009 8:30:52 PM

+2 Boost

This guy made me hate BMW..

AgentOrange - 12/22/2009 8:44:25 PM

+2 Boost

This guy made me buy my 1st BMW back in 2002 (a new 2003 Z4) - and I kept it for 5 years and replaced it with another Bangle inspired BMW.
He brought a lot of new people to BMW - and to appreciate BMWs for what they are - superior handling and performance machines that are fun as hell to drive.
- And isn't that what it's all about?

Agent001 - 12/22/2009 9:51:22 PM

+3 Boost

You hardly hear discussions like this about any other brand or designs.

He changed the world of autos no matter whether you like his stuff or not.

All of you have forgotten that the current 3, sedan, coupe and convertible is a Bangle.

But he never gets credit for a car that will go down in history as one of the greatest.

Bangle's different. But so was Gaudi and all the greats.

Plain and simple. He's the Picasso of car design.

001

MSP6 - 12/22/2009 10:54:20 PM

+3 Boost

Agree with you on this 001.

Was Bangle also involved in the RR Phantom and MINI designs ?

_43LE - 12/23/2009 12:12:22 AM

+1 Boost

"All of you have forgotten that the current 3, sedan, coupe and convertible is a Bangle."

Sedan: ugly
Convertible: ugly
coupe: beautiful

well, one out of three ain't bad.

I will admit, Bangle was a good artist. Good art is often controversial and gets people talking. However, it does not necessarily mean that it is good design. Good riddance I say, he ruined the previously timeless BMW designs.

t_bone - 12/24/2009 9:53:03 AM

+1 Boost

He show flee to Argentina, where he will be tracked for the rest of his life to be held accountable for his Design Crimes.

He has not paid his debt to society, and I doubt he ever will!