I’m somewhat disappointed with this concept. It’s not an empirically attractive car. I always thought that Bangle was going for a more modern design language. I like the retro inspired cars, but I’m getting a little bored with them too, and what happens in a few years when you have to update them? My only consolation is that the chances of actually building this car are slim.

??!?! That looks exactly like my pinewood derby car in Cub Scouts from 25 years ago?

This car looks incredibly stupid. I’m sure this will never see my local dealer’s showroom, but why waste time/$$$ on this crappy concept?

It’s funny – I usually hate Bangle’s stuff, but – for what it is – this is well done. You don’t need a degree from Art Center School to see some real design’e stuff here.

I understand those of you on your knees before bed asking for the return of the Firebird not liking it, or even bothering to understand what he was doing.

j i m

I’m not bothering to understand it because I think it is ugly and unoriginal. It looks like a kit car except for the asymmetric line down the back.

This wasn’t meant to be a production car – merely a design exercise and a way to highlight the company’s racing history.

This is an odd vehicle. At first, I realy liked the smooth lines, especially for a Bangle design. But it does look a little alien-like from the front, Zimmer-like from the front fenders and pure 80’s cheeesy movie prop rear fenders/rear end…other than that, it is okay i guess…

I hope he isn’t serious about the interior…. bmw’s interiors could be about to get much weirder….

Oh, god, not this again! LLN it was bad enough when you posted pictures, but this thing on video is unbearable. This monstrosity completely kills the memory of the original 328 and 328 MM.

Jon.

Looks like an old batmobile. i think bangle should stick to the modern and future designs and stay away from retro.

I don’t know about the rest of you but that thing reminds me of a parade float. It looks likes it was kind of placed on the frame.

BAMF – easy on the meds lad….. opinions on a blog are worth only what you paid for them.

well said my friend!!!

Thats not the point SmokingGun. But way to contribute! Thanks!!!!

Reminds me of a Skoda mixed with an Alfa… disappointment!!!!

BAMF – your right, I forgot to mention that in my opinion the thing looks like a cross between a Horseshoe Crab and a Praying Mantis. Not that I don’t find it interesting – especially the fold over rear – which reminds me of J-Lo in a Roman Toga. Another Bangle Butt fixation maybe? Not that I don’t find her’s interesting.

And in agreement with tommy – things built on a Z4 is it not? Doesn’t make BMW look to good having it crackling around like that.

Bangle loves to hear himself talk… Unfortunately, I don’t.

Alright, SmokingGun, and all the others who bash this concept. I mean its fine if you want to be completely ignorant about the art of car design. If you just want to be an idiot about it, then keep doing what you’re doing. But I like thinking about things intelligently, so I can understand them. If you dont look at this design and think “why does it look this way?” and then try to figure it out, you’re not thinking intelligently. Chris Bangle’s designs are unique, and very interesting. Every line is there for a reason. There is a flow and purpose to every shape. Do you not get that? Do you think you’re funny for comparing it to “J-Lo in a Roman Toga”? I think you just sound like an idiot. You clearly aren’t even bothering to examine the car’s design before you bash it. Get past that, grow up, and then come back and speak intelligently about the designs. Does ANYONE here have anything INTELLIGENT to say about this?

BAMF – Not for nothing there are a lot of things about the car that I like. It’s definitely evocative and as you same some of the lines really do show interesting concepts. But if you look at it from the side – tell me you can’t see a great white (gills and all) drifting by.

And who says I was bashing it – you got something against Horseshoe Crabs?

By the way – this isn’t you is it?

http://www.break.com/index/patiencechild.html

I generally am not a fan Bangle’s work. To me his production cars just don’t do it for me. I saw them as different for the sake of being different in most cases. I like this though. It is cool to see someone who doesn’t generally do something I like genuinely impress me. It keeps with his style but it is as much new as it is old. Very cool.

I must say this is Bangle’s coup de grace – ugly as hell.

SmokingGun. LETS SEE YOU MAKE A BETTER CONCEPT CAR, ITS BETTER THAN THE NEW CARS IN THE US.

I agree with SmokingGun.

Why thank you Byron.

MONEY – Where in the world do you think Chris Bangle was born? Maybe he should go home.

Whats with the taillamp? Whats with the sputtering jalopy lying underneath? I like that this concept is different and (thankfully) not a future production model, but beyond the fact that it is a step outside the box, its a step too far and really just isnt pleasing to the eye a single bit. BMW couldve spent the money on a new iDrive system.

MONEY – Where in the world do you think Chris Bangle was born? Maybe he should go home.
I DO NOT CARE THAT HE WAS BORN IN THE US. GERMAN AND ITALIAN CAR COMPANIES ARE SOME OF THE FEW CAR COMPANIES THAT WILL TRY NEW THINGS UNLIKE FORD,GM,AND DODGE WHY DO YOU THINK HE GOT A JOB AT BMW.
SmokingGun WHERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU THINK BMW IS?. COME UP WITH BETTER COMMENTS THAN
BAMF-your right, I forgot to mention that in my opinion the thing looks like a cross between a Horseshoe Crab and a Praying Mantis. Not that I don’t find it interesting – especially the fold over rear – which reminds me of J-Lo in a Roman Toga. Another Bangle Butt fixation maybe? Not that I don’t find her’s interesting. LETS SEE YOU MAKE A BETTER CONCEPT CAR.

BMAF- if the designer of that car rode the concept and it exploded in a flaming heap while lunging over a cliff in a starry starry night and he dies with the car that is fill with sun flowers then it’ll be famous. Kinda like how picasso died and then everyone wanted his paintings.

I agree with BAMF, this is a very complex and entertaining design. This is not a production car, and never will be, and so wasn’t meant to look like one. I look at it as piece of fine art rather than a usual automobile.

wait that’s van gogh LOL.

BAMF, unless you can claim to be an automobile or industrial designer, with real-world experience and resume to boot, please refrain from flaming other people for their OPINIONS. While you may disagree with them, their opinions count as much as yours do.
IMHO, the design lacks cohesiveness and smacks of attempting to emulate the past (with the worst results, much like the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti). Chris Bangle, while innovative, is not the greatest designer in the world. He recieves accolades more for his polarizing and controversial designs rather than the true integrity and cohesiveness of his design. For reference, please look at the 5-, 6-, and 7-series.
And I say that as a designer. I’m all for innovation and new direction in design, but not at the expense of aesthetics.

just so you know, that crackling sound is because it is straight piped. if you have a car straight piped, new engines do that.

the design lacks cohesiveness and smacks of attempting to emulate the past (with the worst results, much like the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti)
LETS BASH FERRARIS NOW YOU JUST WISH YOU HAD ONE

this one is a real knee slapper! c’mon guys get real….the future of automobile design should be here by now stop taking us backwards already..who would want to drive this thing? THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN?

I like Ferraris, but I’ll call a lousy design a lousy design when I see it. Ferrari’s are usually gorgeous. The 612 isn’t, IMHO. And remember, that’s my OPINION, which I’m entitled to have, and you are entitled to disagree with, MONEY.

BAMF, maybe you can provide your credentials to back up your authoritative stance on the art of car design and why your opinion is the only one that matters around here.

I still think it is ugly and uninteresting, and I also think you’re a tool.

UGLY … it even looks like it would lack performance….

MONEY – why all the yelling? Either you take yourself way too seriously or you don’t understand the irony of the fact that an American designed this for BMW. Why jump all over the US for the sake of a car design trying to pay homage to an Italian road-race that occurred years ago. What, couldn’t find any good Euro’s to do the job? (That’s a joke by the way…..)

Chris Bangle, as has been stated earlier, is a man who likes to present ideas and concepts that can leave you either hating or loving. Which is fine. Maybe he designs Batman cars on the side. Sure I recognise some interesting styling cues for sure. A little bit of the Buggati Atlantic’s spine in the crease maybe?

Do I think it’s a finished product? I don’t think it is so I don’t hate it or love it. Yet.

BTW – scotty. Thanks for the explanation regarding the crackling sound.

I am sorry smoking gun I left my caps lock on But I was not in a good mood.I do take myself way too seriously .

i wouldnt drive this thing if bangle himself gave it to me in person. who ever thought in the year 2000 we would be looking at retro designed automobiles!

And whats your problem with it? Damnit, do you guys even know why you don’t like it? Or do you just love to hate Chris Bangle and everything connected to him?

Yes, I know why I don’t like the design, BAMF. Read my first post. And no, I don’t hate Chris Bangle.I admire Bangle’s conviction and innovative streak, but not his aesthetics. He has brought design to the forefront with his polarizing designs. Unfortunately, he brought design to the public eye with designs that I personally don’t find visually appealling. But that’s my opinion, which once again, I’m entitled to. You may like his design, which you are also entitled to. Please read the posts before flaming.

No problems MONEY.

BAMF – Ditto on D-Zine-R. One thing I do not like about it is the way the greenhouse sits like a boil on the chassis. I much prefer a more integrated flowing design and think this car would benefit from it tapering down a touch. By the way are you familiar with the Russo Baltique Impression or the Faralli & Mazzanti Antas? Methinks all these guys got together for a booze up to share notes.

Quick, run! The Martians have landed! Looks like the spaceship from “The Day the Earth Stood Still”.

Ugly, just plain ugly.

pur ****

I was patient with Bangle for the longest time. Then I found out that he didn’t care about original customer base. I snapped. I stated honest opinions. Put the drivetrain engineers in charge of bodywork. Maybe pick the ones with personality ‘problems’. THEN BMW will reclaim their valuable cache as an ‘engineer’s car’.