During the launch of the new 3 Series at the BMW Welt in Munich we had a few minutes with BMW’s Chief Designer, Adrian van Hooydonk. During our discussions he was very candid and expressed his feelings on the new car and where it fits in the lineup. He also touched on how the exterior design was influenced by regulations.
As BMW’s chief of design he signed off on the final version of the car but it is the board that must give the final approval. This all new car is viewed internally and by much of the media as an evolutionary change when compared to the exiting E90 platform.
Adrian happily explained the basic idea of the BMW sedan models and how they are all members of the BMW family and are easily recognizable as such. The 3,5, and 7 all feature BMW’s traditional twin kidney grills, the Hoffmeister kink and the creases on the hood that flow off of the Roundel. Each model uses these elements as individuals but all are “unmistakeable as BMW”.
We were in attendance during today’s unveiling of the BMWi i3 & i8 Concepts and are digesting all of the information we obtained. While we gain some composure and put pen to paper or more so in our case fingers to keys- enjoy the photos from the Frankfurt. (Full gallery after the break)
Official Release: BMW has scooped up no fewer than three of the coveted awards presented by the German Design Council in the Automotive Brand Contest, the new international brand and design competition launched this year. The winner of the “Architecture & Events” category was the SESTOSENSO light installation created in collaboration with FLOS and light designer Paul Cocksedge, while the BMW 328 Hommage won the “Concept & Study” category. The new BMW 6 Series Coupe also came away with a prize in the “Exterior” category. With these three accolades, the German Design Council pays tribute to the outstanding level of BMW Group design. The presentation ceremony will be held on 13 September 2011 as part of the Automotive Designers’ Night during the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA).
Official Release: To further take advantage of its understanding of Asia’s growing influence on design,BMW Group’s subsidiary DesignworksUSA, the California-based strategic design consultancy with studios in Los Angeles, Munich, and Singapore, will open a new studio in Shanghai in the second half of 2011. Since 2006, DesignworksUSA is successfully operating a design studio in Singapore providing full-service design solutions to its clients across Asia and globally.
Chris Bangle was a very polarizing head of design while at BMW. He brought significant change to automobile design while at the helm and helped shape many of the BMWs that are on the road today. Since his departure from BMW he has been a consultant and runs a vineyard in Italy. This video is interesting in many ways, most specifically his view is still inline with that of BMW in regards to super cars; granted he goes off the deep end a bit.
Official Release: The annually presented GOOD DESIGN Award for 2010 went to a full quartet of vehicles and concepts: the BMW 5 Series Sedan, the MINI Countryman, the BMW S 1000 RR and the BMW Concept 6. This most prestigious of international honours yet again recognised the exceptional standard of BMW Group Design. The prizewinners’ products will be exhibited as part of the annual GOOD DESIGN SHOW to be held in June 2011 at the Chicago Athenaeum.
Karim Habib will take on the post of Head of Exterior Design BMW Automobiles, replacing Anders Warming. The 40-year-old designer already spent the first 10 years of his career working for the BMW Group, during which time he was responsible for the current BMW 7 Series range and the BMW Concept CS. Habib now returns to the Group following an absence of two years as head of Mercedes advanced design.
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We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
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Sections: Design, F30 3 Series Oct 17th, 2011 2 Comments 
