mental pimp

holy crap a new m3!!!

Elara

I'm guessing that's another Chris Bangle design? I LOVE the way the new 6 series and Z4 look, but I'm not sure about the new 5 series, or that M3...maybe it'll grow on me.

The Beav

ugly

i still can't get used to a V8 in a 3 series, that just seems odd

RomanoM

Chris Bangle should be banished to a small island off the French/Italian coast!

With the exception of the Z4 (and just barely), Bangle has completely screwed up the BMW look.

The new 6 looks like a Pontiac GTO with expensive jewelry. The 7 and new 5 look like they where designed by 5 different people who never met or showed each other their work.

Thank God, the BMW engineers are still the best!

A V8 in the 3 has been done by both Alpina and Hamman. I like the idea, just don't like the price tag that is going to come with it.

Lensman

100% agreed!

The Beav

hartage also swaps an M5 engine into a 3 series, but i still just think it doesn't fit right with teh 3 series label

and i agree i like teh z4 alot too

m477

BMW's latest designs just look like 10-year-old Pontiacs. Shitty...

cueball

I think the only reason people like the Z4 is because Bangle didn't actually design it. Some guy in their California studio did.

I do, however, like the new 3 series and am undecided about the new 5, but leaning toward hating it.

blizz81

Thumbs down on the sharky front end design. Just when they had perfected the angel eyes in the 5-series...

RobDickinson

There starting to look damned ugly, worse than before that is.

Very like current MG Z's

mikeb

I think they look good

RomanoM

here's some more pics:





The 7 series is getting a face-lift already!


Plus the 3 series will be only 3-4-5 door cars. The coupe and cab are renamed the 4 series.

zoom44

can someone explain to me just what the hell this "flame-surfacing" design thing is? i've read this term used a couple of times in regards to Mr. Bangle but don't understand the term.

RomanoM

After seeing his designs you get the urge to set him on fire!


Seriously, it refers to all those sharp line, like those on the side on the Z4.

Schneegz

It really doesn't matter what "flame surfacing" is, or rather, what Bangle thinks it is. If you actually have to explain what you were trying to do with your styling, you screwed up, plain and simple.

pelucidor

Bungle has to use thousands of pretentious words to 'explain' his monstrous designs. People like Pinin Farina or Guigaro just have to point at their cars.

DanThMan

I think the most prominent feature would be the way the surface transitions frequently between concave and convex. It causes the light to reflect off the car is unexpected ways. Flame surfacing also seems to involve complex detailing. Compare the headlights and side marker lights of an E36 3-Series (sold betwen 1992 and 1999) and a brand new one, for example. The shapes are sort of pinched and amoeba like, instead of plain rectangles.

So far, I'm not wild about Bangles' recent attempts, but sometimes the most interesting designs have a way of starting out grotesque and growing on you. Other times (see Pontiac Aztec), that growing thing never happens

-Dan

MazdaMike

ehhhh i dont know if i like