Do I detect a little of the boat-hull styling of the 1600 in that high gunwale line encircling the deck? I hope so, and I hope the sketch grows into it and takes on some more of his father's characteristics. This DUKW has a long way to go before it becomes a swan.
Group me with the "shocked if it happens", and with the "even more shocked if it makes it to the states".
For the last 10 years, manufacturers have been showing us awesome, then running awesome through the focus groups until it comes out mangled crap. The only exceptions to this are put at rediculous price points where very few can afford them.
I hope the front end doesn't look anything like the front end in that drawing, that's far worse than anything Bangle dreamed-up. I can't tell what the hell is going on with those headlights, and just because they're round doesn't make them retro. As for 'eye-brow' turn signals? WtF? Quick name a eye-brow-turn-signal wearin' auto?
@SlowMo: I hope it looks exactly like that. The Bangle hating needs to stop, because current Bimmers are way better than the boxes on wheels that we used to have. The eyebrows might be the headlights, with giant fogs.
And taking retro cues doesn't mean remaking the old car. If that car was in showrooms I'd buy it yesterday.
Also, just because something was ruined by bean counters and non-designers on one car doesn't mean it'll fail on everything else.
I'd love to see the design you'd come up with, and no you can't just use the old car.
@Clay Davis: I actually like a lot of the Bangle cars
/ducks
I just know that many of the commenters around here love to pile the hate on anything he is/was associated with so to say that something is worse than Bangle is a great insult in the Jalopnoverse.
@Clay Davis: "Because current Bimmers are way better than the boxes on wheels that we used to have"
Are you trolling? By boxes on wheels you aren't referring to the E46, E39, E38, E36, E34, E30, E28, E24, E21, E12, E9, are you? Try and imagine yourself 50 years from now looking back at the BMW time line, how do you explain the era when Bangle took over?
BMW's teutonic design language was conservative, clean, coldly precise, etc. and that's why I loved them. I don't hate Bangle's designs, I actually like some of them, I just hate that he had to use BMW as the platform to launch them into the world. I liked BMW just the way it was, Mercedes would have been a much better fit for Bangle.
@SlowMo: I hated the Bangle designs before I came to Jalopnik, and now that I'm here, I continue to admit that I like the 3-series and I wouldn't mind a 5er estate and I loooove the Z4.
It isn't really a rallying thing, it's more like... Bangle styles vehicles controversially. A lot of people are vocal about hating them, but last I checked they're still selling BMWs all over the place, so.
@ConnorW: But at the time, E38 and E39 was considered too conservative. After Bangle they went from a small - yes, small - manufacturer to a world player.
"I liked BMW just the way it was, Mercedes would have been a much better fit for Bangle."
That's my main problem with Bangle. At that time, BMW couldn't afford to do risky designs. Mercedes could. But because of those designs they're where they are today.
Are you trolling? By boxes on wheels you aren't referring to the E46, E39, E38, E36, E34, E30, E28, E24, E21, E12, E9, are you? Try and imagine yourself 50 years from now looking back at the BMW time line, how do you explain the era when Bangle took over?
The E46, E38, E39 were styled after Bangle took over.
@MR42HH: It was my understanding that these designs were already in development when Bangle took over, and it wasn't until the next generation that he could steer the design from ground up.
@Syrax: Yeah, the hatch is very strangely proportioned.
I actually like the looks of the 1-coupe, but the ones I do see (and there aren't many) are driven by bleach-blonde hoebags who could drive through a brick wall at any moment.
On top of that, again, it's way too close to the 3 in price and weight. A relatively economical yet fun to drive 1 would be perfect.
Dare to dream. First we have to hope that this is true. Second, we have to hope that it works and the model sells well enough to convince other makes to follow suit.
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was starred
If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face was unstarred
03/17/09
03/17/09
...oh, yeah, fuck it then.
03/17/09
03/17/09
For the last 10 years, manufacturers have been showing us awesome, then running awesome through the focus groups until it comes out mangled crap. The only exceptions to this are put at rediculous price points where very few can afford them.
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
... wait for it...
Aztek!
YUK!
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
And taking retro cues doesn't mean remaking the old car. If that car was in showrooms I'd buy it yesterday.
Also, just because something was ruined by bean counters and non-designers on one car doesn't mean it'll fail on everything else.
I'd love to see the design you'd come up with, and no you can't just use the old car.
03/17/09
/ducks
I just know that many of the commenters around here love to pile the hate on anything he is/was associated with so to say that something is worse than Bangle is a great insult in the Jalopnoverse.
03/17/09
03/17/09
Are you trolling? By boxes on wheels you aren't referring to the E46, E39, E38, E36, E34, E30, E28, E24, E21, E12, E9, are you? Try and imagine yourself 50 years from now looking back at the BMW time line, how do you explain the era when Bangle took over?
BMW's teutonic design language was conservative, clean, coldly precise, etc. and that's why I loved them. I don't hate Bangle's designs, I actually like some of them, I just hate that he had to use BMW as the platform to launch them into the world. I liked BMW just the way it was, Mercedes would have been a much better fit for Bangle.
03/17/09
It isn't really a rallying thing, it's more like... Bangle styles vehicles controversially. A lot of people are vocal about hating them, but last I checked they're still selling BMWs all over the place, so.
03/17/09
"I liked BMW just the way it was, Mercedes would have been a much better fit for Bangle."
That's my main problem with Bangle. At that time, BMW couldn't afford to do risky designs. Mercedes could. But because of those designs they're where they are today.
03/18/09
Are you trolling? By boxes on wheels you aren't referring to the E46, E39, E38, E36, E34, E30, E28, E24, E21, E12, E9, are you? Try and imagine yourself 50 years from now looking back at the BMW time line, how do you explain the era when Bangle took over?
The E46, E38, E39 were styled after Bangle took over.
03/18/09
03/18/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
I actually like the looks of the 1-coupe, but the ones I do see (and there aren't many) are driven by bleach-blonde hoebags who could drive through a brick wall at any moment.
On top of that, again, it's way too close to the 3 in price and weight. A relatively economical yet fun to drive 1 would be perfect.
03/18/09
I like the hatch enough to have one. Couldn't rock the coupe.
What's bad looking about that?
03/18/09
03/17/09
It will never be the ripped-and-raw 2002. Those glorious days of elbows-out driving are gone.
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
03/17/09
The 1-Series, while full of awesome in turbocharged guise, missed the E30-ish point by being a piggy and too close to the 3.
03/17/09
I expect the second option.
01/09/09
01/10/09