I didn't know this car existed! **M6 Photos**

[Diatribe]

Ah, if only Diatribe was following this thread...

Haha, don't know how I missed this. You can run but you can't hide


I think BMW takes steps backwards currently. I liked the last 3 series, the new one looks like a small 5 series. The x3 is ugly as **** and the 5 series isn't much better. I do like the z4 though.

 

[efoto]

big car?

i don't even think this is a medium sized car...actually compared to all the minivans, station wagons, and suv boats out there...sure, the bmw pictured here is not as small as a 911 or mazda miata, but it's a nice, compact, and hopefully manueverable car

I guess a foot is a lot of space, however the M6 is measuring up at 190 inches (15.8333 feet) bump to bump, and the "classic" (not sure which model exactly this is) 911 is measuring 174.5 inches (14.54 feet). There is a difference there, but not as much as one might think. The Miata is measuring only 155.3/4 inches (12.95 feet) (depending on source) so the difference between the 911 and the Miata is greater by a half-foot (nearly) than the 911 and the M6.

Definitely not a small car but closer to large then small considering:
GMC Yukon - 198.- inches (16.5 feet)
Ford Expedition - 205.8 inches (17.15 feet)
Ford Excursion - 226.7 inches (18.89 feet)

When will they stop! Pretty soon, cars are going to give specs in feet like boats

 

[efoto]

Haha, very astute observation! I'm on my 3rd BMW and the wheels chronically look dirty. The boring technically correct answer is brake dust (duh), but the emotionally better answer is that the BMW demographic is made up of people who love to drive hard. As stated succinctly by BMW's own slogan:

"Point B is not the point."

I handwash my car as often as possible; the worst part is clearning the wheels.

Another point might be that BMW uses more double-chromed wheels, and also more grey-chroming in their wheels which naturally make them look darker when clean, so less brake-dust is required to make them look really dirty when really only slightly dirty. I think all wheels just always look dirty....but who knows.

As far as BMW owners driving harder, well that works with their slogans and such, but more than likely it is just softer pads which dust more, making a better feeling brake that dirties your baby all the more

 

[~Shard~]

Haha, don't know how I missed this. You can run but you can't hide

I should have known better...

I think BMW takes steps backwards currently. I liked the last 3 series, the new one looks like a small 5 series. The x3 is ugly as **** and the 5 series isn't much better. I do like the z4 though.

I agree, I really dislike that x3 thing. Again, I like the M5 and the Z4, but that's about it. Never been a huge Beemer fan...

 

[ksz]

Interview with European Car (ec) magazine (1 of 2) (http://www.europeancarweb.com/features/0312ec_bmwdesign/)

Bill Barranco, Automotive Design Recruiting Specialist, Autovision Inc.
I started drawing cars at age 6, later found out I could get a college degree for it, went to Art Center, and the RCA, designed concept and production car interiors and exteriors, working for Ford, Nissan, Volvo and design manager at IAD in Worthing UK. Recently went to sprint car racing school for the fun of it and loved it. I've never liked BMWs very much. Too conservative for me, and too much about engineering, not enough "soul" or spirit.

The cars I love: The Germans--Modern: Audi (not tomorrow's Audi aesthetic) born from J May's pure formula of the fuselage interrupted with the wheels. It's all about the wheels. The old: BMW Isetta, great solution for urban centers, cheap and cheerful.

The French--Modern: Renault, a new form language, weird/lovable/retro/modern that speaks about alternative culture. Old: Really liked the Argus concept car, back in '94 (designer now changing the world of Citroen).

The Japanese--Modern: Nissan is about to wake up the whole automotive design community with models coming into production now. Too many models to list here. Old: Mazda RX7. Dependable horsepower wrapped in a very European skin.

The Italians--Modern: none. Sorry, they're still getting up off their laurels. Old: Lambo Muira, Ferrari F-40 and, of course, the Fiat 500.

The Americans--Modern: I'm still waiting. Cadillac 16, so let's see one on the road. Chrysler's Magnum looks promising, as did the Lincoln Mk 9 show car. Old: '50s to '60s Chevrolets, especially the best from Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell.

ec: What do you think of the new BMW Z4 and 7 Series?
BB: Z4--the US ad campaign, "land shark" seems an accurate and perfect description. I would love to see this car redefine the roadster definition. However, I have yet to get a grip on that boot lid"

7 Series--what really made the difference for me, was seeing the new 7 Series on the road.

The stance is Teutonic, bold, aggressive, self confident and (dare I say) different, something that is rarely seen in such high-end luxury cars. With Packard, Bugatti and Duesenberg it was the norm. It is as much art as engineering, and by that definition, the 7 Series would be a failure if it didn't challenge the norm. U.S. sales indicate so far that it is not a failure."

ec: Do you see a change in design from what occurred in the previous 7 Series? Do you see an evolution from one of the previous BMW's to the Z4?
BB: To quote Chris: "Evolution is for fish." The heritage of BMW begins with the affordable car for the average German. Shall we go back to that with this brand? The MINI is the closest to the BMW's heritage."

ec: Are BMW's design trends paralleling trends in art? Is there anything that you're currently creating that could be examples of this or contrast with it?
BB: I am a supporter of the direction that BMW (Bangle) has chosen, and I highly admire the bold, daring and even challenging new aesthetic that some call "flame" design. Call it what you will, you see the literal inspirations on the streets of Europe, Asia and America, i.e., sheer steel and glass architectural construction, tattoos and flames on low-end cool clothing, louder, in-your-face advertising, the boom in super-realistic animation, etc. BMW has raised the bar, challenging the norm and sometimes change is uncomfortable."

ec: Anything else you think is significant that will add a new way of looking at BMW design?
BB: It is often said that people look like their dogs. Take Chris, his exuberant personality, his glasses, his shoes, and perhaps this analogy applies to new BMW form language. But seriously, for inspiration on how to "see" new BMWs look at shoes. The foot is relatively a constant set of dimensions and design parameters. Walking is an integral part of the function of mobility, yet some of the best dressed wear very progressive and sometimes painful shoes. In shoes we see subtle or radical design (or none). You can easily spot a design conscious person by looking at their shoes.

Cars are no different than clothes, relative for what we use these products for. Spend a lot, or not. We make choices now with automobiles based on image as much as safety or performance.

My final parting shot: Uneducated critics of car styling say that all cars look alike. Chris Bangle just gave them "something different." So my suggestion to these people now is go buy a BMW.

 

[ksz]

Interview 2. Of course these are just opinions, so treat them as such.


Jason Alread, Assistant Professor Department of Architecture Iowa State University
I'm an assistant professor of architecture at Iowa State University and I have my own architectural practice. I was an associate at HLKB Architecture in Des Moines, and while there I was the project architect for the Center Street Park + Ride (1999) and the Newton Road Parking Facility (2001)--both of which won National AIA Design Honor Awards. I also was fortunate enough to work with Maya Lin and Colleen Vojvodich on a major installation at the Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, titled "a shift in the stream" (1999).

A few of my favorite cars: 69 Plymouth Satellite Sebring (I owned a Satellite) Porsche 356, the original Datsun 240 Z, Audi TT, BMW 507, and also, I drive a VW--I think the best designed cars for the money.

ec: What do you think of the new BMW Z4 and 7 Series cars--the exterior and interior design?
JA: I have a mixed review between the two. I think the Z4 is incredibly beautiful, and technically fabulous. An immediate head turner, they seem to have raised the bar on roadster design, while still being reminiscent of their heritage. I love the new design, both inside and out--although the technology nod clearly goes to the 7 Series.

The 7 Series is also a truly impressive automobile, but did not have as strong a gut level appeal for me on the outside. I swear this is not just because on is a two seater and the other a sedan. I'll be way out of my league here to comment, but the curvature of the rear window and the way it meets the trunk--the hood to grille transition and the shape of the lights remind me too much of other large sedans.

The interior is beautifully minimal, and the iDrive has a certain simplicity that seems to say--"pray I don't break, cause you can't imagine how I work".The interior is what I find utterly innovative--the technology of this car is mind-boggling. Everything is so new and minimal that you need to re-learn how to use it. There is a real commitment here to pushing the limits of interior car design."

ec: Do you see a change in design from what occurred in the previous 7 Series to the one now? Do you see elements of other BMW's in the Z4?
JA: The older 7 Series seemed longer and lower--this had a more classic BMW look to me, although I believe the new car is larger. The old 7 Series was getting dated looking; I just think the higher body style looses some of the sleek quality. The new 7 Series looks more muscular, and I'll admit more modern--but less appealing to me, this is of course on the outside. The inside retains the ultra high quality finishes, but moves into a new realm with the way the technology is integrated into a wood paneled luxury rocket ship. I must admit I love the inside and feel less excited by the outside. I like the Z4 much more than the Z3, which always reminded me of those VW's turned into Rolls Royce's. The hood was just out of place on that car. They say the Z4 looks to the 507, one of my favorites, and I agree. I must say, though, the 507 is still the best, there seemed to be nothing tacked on or unnecessarily styled about it. I can't completely say the same for the Z4, but possibly I'm being nostalgic here.

ec: Are the design trends seen in these two cars paralleling design trends in architecture? Is there anything that you're currently working on now that would be an example of this?
JA: I find the interior of the 7 Series has some direct minimalist intentions that are much like architectural work in this style. I try to think of design in this way; it's so amazing that by doing something that looks simple you can have such a dramatic impact. It shows how cluttered and saturated our everyday environments are. I'm a believer in minimalism as a response to technology. On the other hand, and I apologize for this, in terms of sustainability no cars are great and these don't rank high. They drink fuel and there is an increasing trend toward aluminum componentry, which is ecologically bad news. In the end this is probably something no one thinks about when dropping $50- to $100,000-plus on a car, but it bears a mention.

ec: Anything else you can think of that will add a new way of looking at the new BMW Design?
JA: I think they now lead Mercedes. I have affection still for Audi, but the technology coming out of BMW now is just amazing.