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An interview with the devil himself...Chris Bangle

Random Variable

Random Variable

Lifer
http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101968

Why does the world accuse you of high treason against BMW design?

I don't know, and I don't care. I've been designing cars for more than 20 years and have seen the industry from inside numerous automakers. The top management of no other carmaker in the world is as deeply involved as at BMW.

What is your point?

That I didn't sit down one night all by myself and single-handedly change the direction of BMW design.

Why was the current 7 series such a radical design change for BMW?

It's the model that BMW used to celebrate the first 100 years of the car and the passage into the third millennium. More important, it's larger outside, much more comfortable inside, and incorporates the state of the art in automobile technology.

But the car is anything but attractive.

I'm sorry you don't like it, but our customers do - very much so. The mission that marketing gave us was very precise: The new 7 Series must not only appeal to the 60-year-old who is driven around by his chauffeur, but it must also win over the successful 45-year-old who wants a large car that's also dynamic and sporty to drive. It also needed to have dynamic lines.
Click to expand...

 
i wish they (including you 🙂 ) would leave the poor ah heck alone, i happen to like his work @BMW-as it appears do the considerable majority of their customers 😉

he's got a valid point...

'What is your point?

That I didn't sit down one night all by myself and single-handedly change the direction of BMW design. '

and he is in no way as evil as Cartman 🙂
 
I like the way how Bangle radicalized BMW. It's something very different and fresh. New 5 series and 3 series are dead sexy. If you don't like it, then Autotrader is your friend.
 
Fvck all of the latest Bangle creations

7-Series
5-Series
6-Series
Z4
X3

All of them are fugly as hell. The E90 is the least offensive offering, but that ain't saying much
 
How are they selling, is the question? Because if "car enthusiasts" hate them, but BMW is racking up sales, well then they were right to go with Bangle.

I don't hate his designs. They look a bit weird at times, but like the 6 series for instance I like quite a bit. I like the new 7 series too (so sue me!).
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
How are they selling, is the question? Because if "car enthusiasts" hate them, but BMW is racking up sales, well then they were right to go with Bangle.

I don't hate his designs. They look a bit weird at times, but like the 6 series for instance I like quite a bit. I like the new 7 series too (so sue me!).
Click to expand...

7-Series sales were down 20% last year. 5-Series sales dropped by 3% even with the introduction of the new E60.
 
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Skoorb
How are they selling, is the question? Because if "car enthusiasts" hate them, but BMW is racking up sales, well then they were right to go with Bangle.

I don't hate his designs. They look a bit weird at times, but like the 6 series for instance I like quite a bit. I like the new 7 series too (so sue me!).
Click to expand...

7-Series sales were down 20% last year. 5-Series sales dropped by 3% even with the introduction of the new E60.
Click to expand...
Were other model sales up? How did the industry do, as a whole?

 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Skoorb
How are they selling, is the question? Because if "car enthusiasts" hate them, but BMW is racking up sales, well then they were right to go with Bangle.

I don't hate his designs. They look a bit weird at times, but like the 6 series for instance I like quite a bit. I like the new 7 series too (so sue me!).
Click to expand...

7-Series sales were down 20% last year. 5-Series sales dropped by 3% even with the introduction of the new E60.
Click to expand...
Were other model sales up? How did the industry do, as a whole?
Click to expand...

3-series has not been introduced (in the states at least, not sure about anywhere else)
there was no 6 series previously (not from 1990-whenever the current model was introduced)

and I believe the Z4 sold horribly compared to the z3 but don't quote me on that
 
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2005/03/01/000730.html

Seems like OK stats to me. The 7 series slipped by 200 from last year.
Click to expand...

I'm talking total 2004 sales homefry 😉 Monthly sales are too sporadic to make any kind of judgement:

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/01/04/313805.html

Sales dropped in 2004 for the 7, 5, 3, X5 and Z4 (down considerably). The only thing that boosted BMW's sales were the introduction of the X3 and 6-Series which weren't around in 2003.
 
10/3/2005: BMW Lifts Dividend After Record Profits

German carmaker BMW said Thursday it would lift the dividend payout to shareholders after earnings rose to new records in 2004 and on hopes for another successful year this year. BMW said in a statement it planned to pay an increased dividend of ?0.62 ($0.83) per ordinary share for 2004, compared with ?0.58 for 2003. And the dividend for preference shareholders would be upped to ?0.64 euros per share from ?0.60 euros. The increased dividend was made possible after bottom-line profits sped ahead by 14.1 percent to ?2.22 billion ($2.9 billion) last year, making 2004 the "most successful year" in BMW's history, the car maker said. The figure was higher than analysts had been expecting. Operating profit was up by 10.9 percent at ?3.55 billion on a 6.8-percent rise in sales to ?44.335 billion. "We are reaping the benefits of the up-front expenditure previously incurred to launch new products and to expand the international sales organization," said chairman Helmut Panke. BMW also said it would ask shareholders at the upcoming annual meeting for permission to buy back up to 10 percent of its share capital.
Click to expand...

My bet is that Bangle is getting a nice bonus
 
Originally posted by: freegeeks
10/3/2005: BMW Lifts Dividend After Record Profits

German carmaker BMW said Thursday it would lift the dividend payout to shareholders after earnings rose to new records in 2004 and on hopes for another successful year this year. BMW said in a statement it planned to pay an increased dividend of ?0.62 ($0.83) per ordinary share for 2004, compared with ?0.58 for 2003. And the dividend for preference shareholders would be upped to ?0.64 euros per share from ?0.60 euros. The increased dividend was made possible after bottom-line profits sped ahead by 14.1 percent to ?2.22 billion ($2.9 billion) last year, making 2004 the "most successful year" in BMW's history, the car maker said. The figure was higher than analysts had been expecting. Operating profit was up by 10.9 percent at ?3.55 billion on a 6.8-percent rise in sales to ?44.335 billion. "We are reaping the benefits of the up-front expenditure previously incurred to launch new products and to expand the international sales organization," said chairman Helmut Panke. BMW also said it would ask shareholders at the upcoming annual meeting for permission to buy back up to 10 percent of its share capital.
Click to expand...

My bet is that Bangle is getting a nice bonus
Click to expand...
That could explain why BMW is still letting him have a go on the designs...

 
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: iamwiz82
http://www.theautochannel.com/F/news/2005/03/01/000730.html

Seems like OK stats to me. The 7 series slipped by 200 from last year.
Click to expand...

I'm talking total 2004 sales homefry 😉 Monthly sales are too sporadic to make any kind of judgement:

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/01/04/313805.html

Sales dropped in 2004 for the 7, 5, 3, X5 and Z4 (down considerably). The only thing that boosted BMW's sales were the introduction of the X3 and 6-Series which weren't around in 2003.
Click to expand...

2004 YTD sales are in that link I posted. I trust that much more because the auto industry follows the same patterns of ups and downs every year.
 
Originally posted by: freegeeks
10/3/2005: BMW Lifts Dividend After Record Profits

German carmaker BMW said Thursday it would lift the dividend payout to shareholders after earnings rose to new records in 2004 and on hopes for another successful year this year. BMW said in a statement it planned to pay an increased dividend of ?0.62 ($0.83) per ordinary share for 2004, compared with ?0.58 for 2003. And the dividend for preference shareholders would be upped to ?0.64 euros per share from ?0.60 euros. The increased dividend was made possible after bottom-line profits sped ahead by 14.1 percent to ?2.22 billion ($2.9 billion) last year, making 2004 the "most successful year" in BMW's history, the car maker said. The figure was higher than analysts had been expecting. Operating profit was up by 10.9 percent at ?3.55 billion on a 6.8-percent rise in sales to ?44.335 billion. "We are reaping the benefits of the up-front expenditure previously incurred to launch new products and to expand the international sales organization," said chairman Helmut Panke. BMW also said it would ask shareholders at the upcoming annual meeting for permission to buy back up to 10 percent of its share capital.
Click to expand...

My bet is that Bangle is getting a nice bonus
Click to expand...

if the new 3-series tanks like I hope it does I dont think this is going to save him

the 3-series has and always will be their bread and butter
 
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