BMW Designworks lead color designer: Apple made white cars cool - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

phillye30fanboy · 08-30-2012, 11:10 AM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Quote:

Automobile manufacturers preferred silver before Steve Jobs made white cool

FORTUNE -- In a piece about how brown has become the "red-hot" color for cars and trucks, Motoramic's Brett Berk offers this insight into Apple's (AAPL) influence on the automobile market:

Silver was the most popular exterior car color in America for nearly a decade. But while it remains beloved by automotive designers for best showing off a car's styling, its unstinting argent reign was finally overthrown this year. By white. According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks' lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs' doing. "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."

Who knew?

interesting story.

from FORTUNE

Rmk392 · 08-30-2012, 01:16 PM

i find it hard to believe there is a correlation between the two but who knows ..

Robin@Alpine · 08-30-2012, 05:11 PM

I agree with ^^ cars nowadays have more curves and more of a sporty design to it. White showcases those designs and curves more, whereas black hides a lot of it.

Park2670 · 08-31-2012, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin@Alpine

I agree with ^^ cars nowadays have more curves and more of a sporty design to it. White showcases those designs and curves more, whereas black hides a lot of it.

Agreed. I am not sure about what Apple is saying. And I am a huge fanboy.

citg0 · 08-31-2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillye30fanboy

According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks' lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs' doing. "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."

Tread carefully, Sandy... Apple might have a patent on the color white.

Shermanator2411 · 08-31-2012, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Park2670

Agreed. I am not sure about what Apple is saying. And I am a huge fanboy.

It was actually a BMW design lead who said it. I wouldn't doubt that it's true, although I've owned 3 white cars within the last 7 years and I don't care for the iphone haha

red-sauerkraut · 08-31-2012, 10:36 AM

White is classic on cars... Alpine White has one of the largest take rates of any other color [other than Black] in the BMW line up, but white power cords, and interior trim somehow is just overly fembot to me.

CoolDude196 · 08-31-2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citg0

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillye30fanboy

According to Sandy McGill, BMW Designworks' lead designer in color, materials, and finish, this is Steve Jobs' doing. "Prior to Apple, white was associated with things like refrigerators or the tiles in your bathroom. Apple made white valuable."

Tread carefully, Sandy... Apple might have a patent on the color white.

honestly that wouldnt suprise me

antremo · 08-31-2012, 10:41 AM

WOW!!! I've never once seen a white car and thought Apple...lol

Sounds like people trying to associate things that have no association in order to sound intelligent.

Besides, I think there are so many other colors (red, blue, black, orange (Exotic car), yellow, silver) that look better than white.

I think milk when I see a white car. If you can tell...I don't care for white...lol

monkawekrue · 08-31-2012, 10:42 AM

white is a sexy color when it comes to cars IMO. cant get enough of it.

Maz335i · 08-31-2012, 10:46 AM

I just started to like white and appreciate the colour more in cars than I used to.

But this has nothing to do with Apple or the Apple products I own.

I just love a White car with Black "pieces" on it...

GOLFFRR · 08-31-2012, 11:00 AM

interesting. I don think the two are connected in anyway

Park2670 · 08-31-2012, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shermanator2411

It was actually a BMW design lead who said it. I wouldn't doubt that it's true, although I've owned 3 white cars within the last 7 years and I don't care for the iphone haha

Oops. Totally read that wrong.

Still doesnt seem to be connected, no matter who said it.

Imola.ZHP · 08-31-2012, 11:23 AM

I fail to see the connection...

Plus....

Imola Red is the best color ever, people just don't realize it...

piloto · 08-31-2012, 11:54 AM

It seems that all she is saying is that the stigma that may ahve existed for buying a white car has erroded with the number of "coo" white products that Apple has introduced.

In Brasil for example, at least in SP, all white cars are taxis, so you wouldn't really want a white car there. I can see how some (likely not many on these boards) saw white as something more appliance like, whereas now those same individuals associate it to an iPhone or iPad.

My car is AW, and it has nothing to do with anything other than I love the way it looks. It shows off the curves and contrasts well with the black inserts and red interior.

W/// · 08-31-2012, 12:05 PM

Um... no. Cars before the stupid iPhone (go Team Android)

Just my opinion

scott@bmwhn · 08-31-2012, 12:13 PM

who would have thought...

on a some what related note, white appliances are making a comeback also.

benzo23 · 08-31-2012, 12:16 PM

Apple made white cars popular? This is the most fucking worthless thing ive heard all day lmao.

E92LNGCGY · 08-31-2012, 12:20 PM

White is an awesome color that's why I have AW on the E92 and F25

Budge · 08-31-2012, 12:34 PM

Personally, I thing BMW made white popular all by themselves. They did that by not offering a single VIBRANT color. I'm not meaning to discount the beauty of black, grey, or silver. But those of us who prefer a more colorful car are left with Melbourne Red (which is more maroon than red IMO) and Le Mans Blue (which is still very dark). To me (meaning no offense), they are very muted and conservative. What's worse is that these colors are mostly the same for all BMW models, including the sportier M cars. White is the brightest "color" that BMW offers us without going the Individual route. So even though I prefer red sports cars, my M3 is AW.

ts61gogo · 08-31-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

White is classic on cars... Alpine White has one of the largest take rates of any other color [other than Black] in the BMW line up, but white power cords, and interior trim somehow is just overly fembot to me.

Also, Volvo's polar white has been very common way before Steve Job's genius idea.

E9TOU · 08-31-2012, 01:02 PM

That's a ridiculous statement to make. Like silver and black, white can look good on any car and is often available on most cars if not all. Apple did not make white "cool," white was always good looking.

08-31-2012, 10:42 AM	#10
monkawekrue Colonel Drives: e46 M3 CB/e46 M3 AW/f25 X3 AW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CENTEX Posts: 2,406 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2003 e46 M3 CB [0.00] 2004 e46 M3 AW [0.00] 2013 f25 X3 AW [0.00] 2007 e92 328i SG RE ... [0.00] 2007 e90 335i AW RE ... [0.00]	white is a sexy color when it comes to cars IMO. cant get enough of it. __________________ <<Selling my e46 ///M3>>

08-31-2012, 10:46 AM	#11
Maz335i BMW 4 Life... Drives: 2012 335i M Sport (Special Ed) Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 2,462 iTrader: (0)	I just started to like white and appreciate the colour more in cars than I used to. But this has nothing to do with Apple or the Apple products I own. I just love a White car with Black "pieces" on it... __________________ MODS: * / M Sport + Performance / Meisterschaft / Challenge / MORR / more to come! *

08-31-2012, 11:00 AM	#12
GOLFFRR BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: Golf Cart Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Solvang, CA/Camarillo, CA Posts: 10,919 iTrader: (4)	interesting. I don think the two are connected in anyway __________________ BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BMW, PM ME FIRST I CAN HOOK YOU UP! We are Performance Center\|Euro Delivery\|BMW Individual Specialist Need a quote?..Ryan /Checa Email link \| T.805.482.8878 ask for Francesca www.stevethomasbmw.com \| OUR PARTS STORE \| Facebook-STBMW \| Twitter-STBMW

08-31-2012, 11:23 AM	#14
Imola.ZHP 100% PAID FOR! Drives: 2003 BMW 330i ZHP Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN Posts: 1,788 iTrader: (0)	I fail to see the connection... Plus.... Imola Red is the best color ever, people just don't realize it... __________________ -- '03 330i ZHP -- Marcus

08-31-2012, 12:05 PM	#16
W/// Major Drives: E30 Vert & E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: SC Posts: 1,241 iTrader: (2)	Um... no. Cars before the stupid iPhone (go Team Android) Just my opinion __________________ 2008 E92 M3: Sparkling Graphite - Bamboo Beige - 6MT - CF Roof - OEM ZCP Wheels - ACM Test Pipes - Borla S-Type - BPM Stage II Tune & Coding- RS Technik Spacers (12F/12R)

08-30-2012, 01:16 PM	#2
Rmk392 Second Lieutenant Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Philly Posts: 298 iTrader: (0)	i find it hard to believe there is a correlation between the two but who knows ..

08-30-2012, 05:11 PM	#3
Robin@Alpine BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 204 iTrader: (0)	I agree with ^^ cars nowadays have more curves and more of a sporty design to it. White showcases those designs and curves more, whereas black hides a lot of it.

08-31-2012, 10:36 AM	#7
red-sauerkraut . Drives: m-car / x-car Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: northern hemisphere Posts: 2,744 iTrader: (0)	White is classic on cars... Alpine White has one of the largest take rates of any other color [other than Black] in the BMW line up, but white power cords, and interior trim somehow is just overly fembot to me.

08-31-2012, 10:41 AM	#9
antremo New Member Drives: 2011 328 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 12 iTrader: (0)	WOW!!! I've never once seen a white car and thought Apple...lol Sounds like people trying to associate things that have no association in order to sound intelligent. Besides, I think there are so many other colors (red, blue, black, orange (Exotic car), yellow, silver) that look better than white. I think milk when I see a white car. If you can tell...I don't care for white...lol

08-31-2012, 11:54 AM	#15
piloto Captain Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 832 iTrader: (0)	It seems that all she is saying is that the stigma that may ahve existed for buying a white car has erroded with the number of "coo" white products that Apple has introduced. In Brasil for example, at least in SP, all white cars are taxis, so you wouldn't really want a white car there. I can see how some (likely not many on these boards) saw white as something more appliance like, whereas now those same individuals associate it to an iPhone or iPad. My car is AW, and it has nothing to do with anything other than I love the way it looks. It shows off the curves and contrasts well with the black inserts and red interior.

08-31-2012, 12:13 PM	#17
scott@bmwhn Major Drives: Msport 328i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 1,097 iTrader: (2)	who would have thought... on a some what related note, white appliances are making a comeback also. __________________ 13' Msport 328i _Mperformance - Modulare - H&R_ Previous: 09' Msport 335i, 07' Msport 335i

08-31-2012, 12:16 PM	#18
benzo23 Colonel Drives: 11 e92 AW MSport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: FL Posts: 2,297 iTrader: (0)	Apple made white cars popular? This is the most fucking worthless thing ive heard all day lmao.

08-31-2012, 12:20 PM	#19
E92LNGCGY Captain Drives: E92/F25 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 676 iTrader: (0)	White is an awesome color that's why I have AW on the E92 and F25 __________________ Looking to buy or sell property in Alberta? Drop me a line to see what I can do for you. Urban Realty - Leslie Ng - 403-807-6248 or leslieng168@gmail.com

08-31-2012, 12:34 PM	#20
Budge Professional Trophy Husband Drives: '09 M3 Sedan DCT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 136 iTrader: (0)	Personally, I thing BMW made white popular all by themselves. They did that by not offering a single VIBRANT color. I'm not meaning to discount the beauty of black, grey, or silver. But those of us who prefer a more colorful car are left with Melbourne Red (which is more maroon than red IMO) and Le Mans Blue (which is still very dark). To me (meaning no offense), they are very muted and conservative. What's worse is that these colors are mostly the same for all BMW models, including the sportier M cars. White is the brightest "color" that BMW offers us without going the Individual route. So even though I prefer red sports cars, my M3 is AW.

08-31-2012, 01:02 PM	#22
E9TOU Second Lieutenant Drives: 2010 E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Goleta, CA Posts: 235 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW E92 335 [4.00]	That's a ridiculous statement to make. Like silver and black, white can look good on any car and is often available on most cars if not all. Apple did not make white "cool," white was always good looking.

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