Chris Bangle has left his post as BMW Group Head of Design, a position he has held since 1992, to “pursue his own design-related endeavors beyond the auto industry marking the start of a new phase in his life while maintaining strong ties with the BMW Group” according a BMW statement released today.
The statement goes on to eulogise Mr Bangle and his impressive contribution to the design philosophy of the BMW Group:
Over the years numerous designs for new vehicles and vehicle concepts have been developed under Christopher Bangle’s leadership. As well as continuing the BMW 3, 5 and 7 Series, he and his teams were responsible for a range of other models, 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. Other developments under the auspices of Christopher Bangle include the new MINI and Rolls-Royce models and a number of innovative motorcycle concepts. During his tenure, Christopher Bangle was also instrumental in making the company’s consultancy subsidiary, BMW Group DesignworksUSA, what it is today: a global design agency in North America, Munich and Singapore for leading international brands and companies in a wide variety of industries.
Christopher E Bangle hands over the reigns to Adrian van Hooydonk (44) with whom he has worked in BMW Group design development for nearly 17 years. Van Hooydonk is currently Head of BMW Automobile Design. In his new position he will be responsible for design development for the BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI brands.
Born in the Netherlands, van Hooydonk studied at Delft Polytechnic University in Holland and later at the Art Center Europ in Vevey, Switzerland, until 1992. From there he came to Munich, where he joined BMW as a designer. In the year 2000 he went to California to work for the BMW Group subsidiary Designworks USA. He was Director of the internationally renowned design agency from 2001 to 2004. Then, under Bangle as the BMW Group’s Head of Design, he became Head of the Brand Design Studio for BMW Automobiles.
While van Hooydonk has a number of designs to his name, MINI and Mini fans will probably be most familiar with his design of the exterior of the Mini ACV30 Concept from 1997, while more recently he and his team have developed the designs for the new BMW 7 Series and Z4 as well as for the Concept Progessive Activity Sedan, which celebrates its premiere at the Geneva Auto Show in early March 2009.
How much of a change in design philosophy we will witness remains to be seen. Let’s leave the final word to the new man at the top himself:
I am honoured and extremely excited to take on this new responsibility. BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce produce the best cars and motorcycles in their segment, and I am really looking forward to being able to contribute to the future development of these brands. I have no doubt that there are challenges ahead, but BMW’s depth in engineering and the passion of its talented design team are as strong as ever. Together I am sure we will be able to create some very sophisticated and extremely attractive concepts.
Tags: adrian van hooydonk, bmw, car design, chris bangle, design, mini
[...] ACV30 designer becomes BMW design chief Christopher E Bangle hands over the reigns of BMW group design to Adrian van Hooydonk (44) with whom he has worked in BMW Group design development for nearly 17 years. Van Hooydonk is currently Head of BMW Automobile Design. In his new position he will be responsible for design development for the BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI brands. ACV30 designer becomes BMW design chief | theSwitchback [...]
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[...] roof line is more than a little reminiscent of the ACV30 Concept, penned by Adrian van Hooydonk, who is now BMW Group Head of Design. The large, heavily raked [...]