Evolutionary styling. It's as German as Heidi Klum dressed in lederhosen serving steins of Hofbrau at Oktoberfest. While all the German manufacturers have historically resisted clean-slate re-dos like their American and Japanese competitors did, it was BMW that stuck to its styling DNA stronger than anyone else. The kidney grille, the Hofmeister kink, the quad headlights and the driver-canted dash design, plus a few model-specific items like the M and Z cars' side gills.
And then this decade hit and the BMW DNA suffered from a genetic abnormality. Chief designer Chris Bangle with the blessing of BMW's corporate gods set forth breaking the brand's adherence to evolutionary, some-would-say cookie cutter styling. Words were introduced like flame surfacing (from Bangle) and the Bangle butt (from us). Every new vehicle introduced not only diverged sharply from the car that came before, but from the other models in the line-up. It was like introducing a Dalmatian into a pure-bred German Shepherd gene pool. Some thought different was good, many more thought different was bad.
The 5 Series was one of the more successful and least derided of the Bangle-era BMWs. Still, I remember a certain car magazine based on Hogback Road writing that the front end looked like a Z3 done up in kabuki make-up, while I always thought the back end looked like it was molded out of plastic rather than chiseled out of metal like every Bimmer sedan that came before it. Personally, I'd take a well-maintained fourth generation 5er over a 5-gen-5 any day -- especially when we're talking M5s.
Now we have the all-new sixth-generation 2011 BMW 5 Series and just like the 7 Series and Z4, BMW has restored its evolutionary DNA. Just take a look at the included family photos. The new 5 looks like an evolution of the fourth generation rather than its immediate predecessor, which certainly looks now like the red-headed step child of the family. The resemblance to the extended family has also been re-established as this new 5 certainly has strong visual ties to the 3 and 7.
One has to wonder why BMW has returned to its old ways. The easy answer would be that Chris Bangle has been replaced, but the new guy (Adrian van Hooydonk) was deeply involved with the revolutionary styling upheaval and these new cars were put into development while Bangle was still around. Perhaps the design team had a change in heart, but I think it more likely that corporate thought the brand had been shaken up enough. Having said that, it's important to note that the styling revolution certainly didn't hurt sales -- the 2007 5 Series sold 53,634 units while the 2003 5 Series sold only 45,454 in that generation's final year. Even in last year's economy, the 5 managed to sell 45,813 units (this year is not surprisingly worse).
This return by BMW coincides with a similar evolutionary return by its compatriots. Mercedes-Benz has returned to its chiseled, blocky styling ways. Volkswagen has ditched its Audi-like droopy grille and more organic, Japanese-like styling elements. The new GTI looks more like the 99-05 version than the previous generation. Then there's Audi, which isn't returning to its old DNA, but rather inbreeding to assure that every model it makes looks exactly the same. Take the new A8 introduced just two days ago -- tell me it doesn't look like an early mid-cycle refresh of the A4.
In general, I like this evolutionary return. It makes my world seem right again. However, the Bangle era served the purpose of shaking up the brand and making the buying public OK with a BMW having a bit more flare. Sometimes you have to shock people first, then dial things back so that future advancements don't seem so jarring. In that way, job well done, but I'm glad that we're back to German cars styled by Charles Darwin.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
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By 7driver
on December 2, 2009
10:22 AM
In the nose shots, the 5th gen kidney grille is getting to look like the Pontiac twin port grille. Or vice versa. In any case, I guess they won't have that problem any more going forward.
BTW, if you want to increase feedback I suggest you do 1 blog post per day here instead of multiple. And how will CarPool differentiate itself from Edmunds Daily? Will the latter continue on or will it die? Today's two postings just seem to be content from Daily at a different address.
And when will JRiz get his irreverence back? Been a while since I've seen him pull out his "WRONG" stamp or iron a shirt on a Lancer wing. That'd be a sure way to increase traffic/feedback on the CarPool blog :-)
By chavis10
on December 3, 2009
10:00 AM
I may be the only one who has this opinion but after careful scrutiny, I think the previous 5 and 7 look better than the new models. It seems that BMW has shifted the front axle forward giving these cars a long hooded GT coupe look (think Z8, MB SLS, Ferarri 612 Scag, etc) which to me throws off the proportions for a sedan. The updated previous gen 750 was perfect in profile if you ask me after they fixed those intial weird looking tail lamps. When I see a new 750, it just seems awkward with the wheelbase being way too long. The cab is pushed to the rear of the car leaving the hood section looking enormous.
By editor_karl
on December 3, 2009
11:34 AM
Edmunds Daily will continue as the consumer advice blog. It's role will be up-to-the-minute information related to buying a car (pricing, on-sale dates, buying tips, industry news, etc.).
CarPool will not have to deliver officially "helpful" content (though it still might as a side effect). Instead, it will offer a glimpse at what's going on around the office, whether its current short-term test cars and thoughts on them, opinions on auto shows cars, face-off comparison tests, our service experiences with our personal cars (those Ford GT oil changes are expensive!) and a bunch of other stuff we haven't thought of yet.
By estreka
on December 3, 2009
12:19 PM
I'd say the 3rd gen is still the epitome of BMW design. It looks like a toned-down rally racer.
All the gens after that look cheap and plasticesque. At least the 4th gen was easily identifiable as a Bimmer. The 5th's rear end is hardly discernable from a Camry and the front was, as stated, very much inspired by Pontiac.
I will say though, the detail is striking once you see one up close.
By jriz
on December 4, 2009
09:28 AM
"And when will JRiz get his irreverence back?"
I consider myself officially challenged.