Is it just me or all the new BMW's butt ugly?

[Franklin]

It must be a geezer thing but I think the last good looking BMW was the E30 3 series and the last good looking Porsche was the 84/89 Carrera.

[arcsine]

The irony is that Bangle was charged to double sales when he took over and he thought that going with challenging designs was the only way to do it.

For one, with competition from a number of very nice cars in every segment BMW is in, doubling sales is near to impossible.

And second, what ugly car has ever set sales records?

[Mojo]

My freind just bought a 2006 530i.
I didn't like them before but its totally grown on me and now I acually
love the look. Variety is the spice of life.

[Yellowbird RS]

Originally posted by yellowline
Let's just be happy that Porsche didn't hire him...imagine Bangle getting his hands on the 911.

It's true that BMWs started to look a little dated, but they didn't have to resort to this. (BTW, I really like them too, but you can't keep selling the same bodystyle forever in this market.)

Probably a better looking Panamera

[RickM]

Very interesting observation there, Yellow.

[jkarolyi]

Spittin' image of a 996! Maybe Bangle did some work for Porsche before joining BMW.

[campbellcj]

I have disliked all of the Chris Bangle designs. IIRC the only current model that is not of the fugly Bangle genre is the Z8...I like that one.

[wludavid]

The X5 has not yet been Bangled either.

And second, what ugly car has ever set sales records?

The Pontiac Aztec.

Oh did you mean set records in a good way?

[campbellcj]

Good call; however, about the only thing the X5 has going for it IMHO is that it looks better than the Cayenne -- just barely!!!

I've been seeing the new Bangled 3-series around L.A. the last few weeks, and as predicted, yep they're fugly too! (Although slightly less so than the 5's, I think).

[Eric Coffey]

U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi, you UGLY!

[1967 R50/2]

Sorry, but I disagree. I don't think a single Bangle design is "Ugly".

Ugly is a Gremlin, Pacer, Vega or ...ack....Aztec... and the new Subaru Tribeca which doesn't look like the same person designed the front and the back.

Under his watch BMW has created the Z3 (still looks modern) X5 and X3 (suvs aren't my bag, but these are highly imitated), 6 series, which is gorgeous, and Z4, which while controversial, looks absolutely fabulous in black.

I will admit that the 7 and the 5 are more devisive designs, but they are not Aztec ugly and actually appeal to me more as time goes by.

Oh, and I forgot the new Roller was designed under his watch too. I don't think anyone here would question the appeal of that vehicle.