[E90-4life]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

This is so ironic. BMW evokes the idea of German Engineering, yet Mr. Nagashima was born in Japan and educated in the U.S.A.

I wonder who is actually responsible for the headlight "eyebrows" and the shape of the e90 headlights. In cartoon form, they could easily transform into Anime characters.

I wouldn't be suprised if that was a design influence for the E90, you know they used the Dane Edna eyebrows for the 5 & 7 series headlights. You'd be suprised what kinds of things influence car design...

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by Jason

Good info e90fleet. Also, here's a list of the designers of various BMW's (everything can't be blamed on Bangle )

Joji Nagashima: E36 3 series, Z3, E39 5 series

Boyke Boyer: E38 7 series

Klaus Kapitza: E31 8 series

Geoff Velasco: X3 (Designworks)

Chris Chapman: X5 (Designworks)

Anders Warming: Z4 (Designworks)

Henrik Fisker: Z8 (now with Aston)

Kevin Rice: new 1 series

Erik Goplen: E46 3 series (Designworks/USA)

David Arcangeli: E60 5 series

This is real interesting as I also love the Z3 and e36 styling. Those are modern interpretations of what people consider classic BMW styling, and yet the same designer is responsible for the e90. Very cool.

[abc]

Sooo..... it takes a Japanese guy huh.

[abc]

http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0_0_www_bm...p_Concrete.pdf

[E90-4life]

Originally Posted by abc

http://www.bmwgroup.com/e/0_0_www_bm...p_Concrete.pdf

can't read, my eyes are too tired for the fine print. I think we all owe Joji a hug.

[lux.sh]

And yet, bmw owners talk sh1t about japanese all day.

[abc]

know who's the designer of the e92?

[E90-4life]

Originally Posted by abc

know who's the designer of the e92?

Joji

[tctic]

No wonder people are complaining about "Asian looking" rear light clusters... But anyways, the design of the E90 is great and I find the rear lights looking fine too.

[Xens]

I eat rice and I love the ass of my E90, um ...............

[longtran]

woah this thread started on may 5. thats when i saw my first e90- at the dealer. i think that was when i put the order in too.

[maq]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

This is so ironic. BMW evokes the idea of German Engineering, yet Mr. Nagashima was born in Japan and educated in the U.S.A.

I wonder who is actually responsible for the headlight "eyebrows" and the shape of the e90 headlights. In cartoon form, they could easily transform into Anime characters.

Why does nationality have to do with BMW?

FYI, Mr Nagashima penned one of the most popular BMWs of all time, the E39 5-series, as well as the contemporary E36/7 Z3 roadster. He's an excellent designer, and Japan is strong in industrial design. For those of you who don't know, the Ferrari Enzo was penned by Ken Okuyama, another well-known Japnese-born US-educated designer. Okuyama is now creative director at one of the most influential design firms - Pininfarina.

Also FYI, most of the brand-defining BMWs weren't designed by Germans. The 507 was designed by American Albrecht von Goertz, the 2002 (along with E21, E23 and E24) by French Paul Bracq, the 3.0 CS/CSL and M1 by Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, the E34 by legendary Italian Ercole Spada, the Z8 by Danish Henrik Fisker and the E46 by Swedish Erik Goplen.

Believe it or not, when people bash "Japanese styling", what they don't realise is that the majority of current offerings from Japan are actually designed by Westerners from America/Europe-based studios. For instance, the 350Z was penned by an English in a Cali-based studio.

There are no borders in design.

[Xens]

Originally Posted by maq

Believe it or not, when people bash "Japanese styling", what they don't realise is that the majority of current offerings from Japan are actually designed by Westerners from America/Europe-based studios. For instance, the 350Z was penned by an English in a Cali-based studio.

There are no borders in design.

Wow that moved me!

[ksfrogman]

Originally Posted by maq

Why does nationality have to do with BMW?

FYI, Mr Nagashima penned one of the most popular BMWs of all time, the E39 5-series, as well as the contemporary E36/7 Z3 roadster. He's an excellent designer, and Japan is strong in industrial design. For those of you who don't know, the Ferrari Enzo was penned by Ken Okuyama, another well-known Japnese-born US-educated designer. Okuyama is now creative director at one of the most influential design firms - Pininfarina.

Also FYI, most of the brand-defining BMWs weren't designed by Germans. The 507 was designed by American Albrecht von Goertz, the 2002 (along with E21, E23 and E24) by French Paul Bracq, the 3.0 CS/CSL and M1 by Italian Giorgetto Giugiaro, the E34 by legendary Italian Ercole Spada, the Z8 by Danish Henrik Fisker and the E46 by Swedish Erik Goplen.

Believe it or not, when people bash "Japanese styling", what they don't realise is that the majority of current offerings from Japan are actually designed by Westerners from America/Europe-based studios. For instance, the 350Z was penned by an English in a Cali-based studio.

There are no borders in design.

Now, now. Let's not get too sensitive about ethnicity and nationality here. I'm a 3rd Generation American of Korean and Chinese descent, and my Korean mom who was born in Mexico speaks Spanish (esp. when upset). I have a Persian Cat, a Chinese CPA, a Filipina girlfriend, a Yugoslavian nurse, a Caucasian office manager, eat Bratwurst, but hate Limburger cheese, love Sushi and In-and-Out Burgers. Soon I will own a "German" BMW of multi-ethnic collaboration.

The point I was making was of symbolic irony, not a political or personal statement about Nationality. Why did I know someone would think otherwise?

And thanks for the info on design origins. I didn't know those specifics, but was not surprised. Our world economies exist in very global times. And I know about his influence on the e39 and Z3. Love them too.

[maq]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Now, now. Let's not get too sensitive about ethnicity and nationality here...

I wasn't offended by your comment in any way. From how quick you came with those 2 animation screenshots, I knew right away about your ethnicity.

I was simply trying to point out people's false impression of "Japanese styling" and Japan's role in the design industry. My intention with that post was purely focused on the topic of design, nothing else. Sorry it it seemed otherwise.

[ksfrogman]

I'm just a quick Googler and watched Speed Racer and Gigantor as a kid.

[lux.sh]

I smell racism in this thread!!! ROAR!

j/k. good to see we are all getting along?!

[BMW0]

Nice clay models, wonder how much it cost to buy one of those pre-production models?

[ON325i]

hey mag, where did u find those pics of development and claying-in-progress?

[ksfrogman]

Here's another idea about design influence:

[ZenDriver]

The modern Japanese aesthetic is still totally worthy of bashing.

I think Japanese designers are amazing, but they tend to be constrained by the wishes of the Japanese domestic market. Unfortunately, the average young Japanese wants a product that screams for attention while still holding onto elements which evoke preceding, successful products. The most coherent example of this is the Japanese car culture; they see a wing on a touring car and the next thing you know, all the ricer boys have GIANT wings on the backs of their road vehicles. Or NACA ducts (those air ducts made famous on the Lambo Countach and Ferrari F40); within the modern Japanese aesthetic, if a couple of small NACA ducts are good, then a BUNCH OF GIANT ONES!!! must be better.

And I don't necessarily blame the Japanese for having such odd taste either. One must remember that the natural Japanese aesthetic, the one they had for centuries, was simple, elegant, beautiful and very detail/craftsman oriented. The single most awe inspiring object I've ever held is an Edo period katana. All of this got killed when the fat Americans sailed into Tokyo harbor and rooted the protectionist Japanese from their highly isolated nationalism. Since then, the Japanese aesthetic has mixed with Western cultural cues and details to become something quite extraordinary.

Having said all that, Japanese cars designed for the Japanese market are fugly.

[abc]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

Now, now. Let's not get too sensitive about ethnicity and nationality here. I'm a 3rd Generation American of Korean and Chinese descent, and my Korean mom who was born in Mexico speaks Spanish (esp. when upset). I have a Persian Cat, a Chinese CPA, a Filipina girlfriend, a Yugoslavian nurse, a Caucasian office manager, eat Bratwurst, but hate Limburger cheese, love Sushi and In-and-Out Burgers. Soon I will own a "German" BMW of multi-ethnic collaboration.

The point I was making was of symbolic irony, not a political or personal statement about Nationality. Why did I know someone would think otherwise?

And thanks for the info on design origins. I didn't know those specifics, but was not surprised. Our world economies exist in very global times. And I know about his influence on the e39 and Z3. Love them too.

korean born in Mexico?? Anyway...a Chinese CPA is fine, a WASP Office Mgr is fine too... A Chinese Rabbi is the kind of thing that makes one say huh... As may be the case with the e90 being designed by a Asian man.

One that wouldn't frequent a BMW forum or is just a casual / moderate BMW 'looker' wouldn't have figured on avg, (I am willing to bet) a long time Japanese dude is responsible for such a Germanish product within a German Brand-BMW 'reknowned' for its 'European' styling.