Chris Bangle, the man behind the controversial BMW designs over the last several decades has announced he is leaving his post at BMW after 17 years. Bangle became the Director of the BMW Design Group in 1992 and has since become one of the world's most famous infamous automotive designers.
Under Bangle's leadership BMW has produced many new designs including the BMW Z3, BMW Z4, BMW X5, BMW Z8, BMW X3, the new BMW 6 Series, the BMW X6 and the BMW 1 Series. Bangle's design department also developed the designs for the new MINI and the Rolls-Royce Phantom (at least he got one of them right). Bangle will more likely be remembered for the drastic new direction that he took vehicles like the BMW 7 and 5 Series in. He is also responsible for several new 3 Series designs.
Bangle will be replaced by Adrian van Hooydonk, the currently Head of BMW Automobile Design, who Bangle has worked with for the past 17 years.
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Chris Bangle Quits BMW… and the Auto Industry on AutoGuide.com