http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...THISWEEKSISSUE

Here, guys......judge for yourselves. Here is an article from Autoweek with some good shots of the upcoming 3-Series coupe. Bangle has finally designed a car ( along with the new 1-series, which we probably won't get here in the U.S. ) that doesn't make me want to disgorge my lunch. It actually looks decent in the photos...though, as always, I will wait for final judgement until I see it in person and examine its materials and fit-and-finish...and it looks like we're still stuck with You-Know-What on the console.

genearch...I'm especially looking forward to your opinion of this car...I know you like the larger Bangle BMW designs ( and I respect that ).

 

I guess I will wait to see it in the flesh. I thought the 6 series was going to be th best looking bangle design but when I have gotten up and close, there is just too much that doesn't work on it to me. Looks pretty good in the pictures. Of course, they are cherry picking the 6 series front end, its best feature, onto the other models now and it looks like it will work well on the 3 and is going to improve the 7 as well.

 

That's kind of interesting. I actually like some Bangle designs, particularly the 3-series sedan, but that coupe looks absolutely hideous to me. It's a typical BMW move eliminating two doors on the sedan and calling it a coupe (I know it's not that simple, but it looks like that's all they did), and in the past it's worked fine - but for some reason that thing just look out of proportion to me in a big way.

 

I really love the look of the E90 3-Series, as well as the X5 (didn't Bangle design that?).

The new facelifted 7-Series is better than the pre-facelift one.

I'm still undecided about this 3 coupe.

 

Hmm ... It looks like the sedan with 2 less doors. Boring ...

 

I think I'm the only person in the world that loves the 5 Series.

 

You are not alone. I love 5-series. In fact, 5-series is the number two choice on my favorite car list, right behind Ferrari F430 coupe.

 

i wouldn't able to say anything until i see the taillights

 

Well if its like the current 3, there should be some other Pontiac taillights that they can stick into the thing.

 

I have really grown to like the new 5-series also, but I'm still not real hype on the headlights. The new 3 sedan is pretty good, but I don't like the coupe (although I bet it will be an awesome drive with those turbos). And the 1 series is just odd-looking.

 

hahaa, then i have every reason to hate it

 

I don't think the current 3 series sedan & the upcoming 3 series coupe can be considered a Bangle design anymore strictly speaking, he's no longer the head of the BMW design team for over a year (he was kicked up) . . .

 

Maybe that at least partially explains the relatively decent looks of this new car.

 

As discussed in a past thread, BMW execs wanted the new 3 series toned down from the radical Bangle designs for it's bread & butter 3 series.

 

and i think the 5 was a "toned down" version already too