Flame surfacing was a revolutionary design language developed by BMW within the early 2000s. Popularized in the course of the Chris Bangle period and impressed by human and cloth varieties, it launched dynamic physique surfaces that break up opinion however left an enduring impression on the model’s identification. Flame surfacing, adore it or hate it, is an integral a part of the BMW story. Certainly one of many polarizing concepts partially formulated by designer Chris Bangle, flame surfacing was an underlying design precept that ultimately discovered its method into each BMW mannequin within the lineup circa mid-2000s or so. From the three Collection up — and all the way down to the brand new 1 Collection — BMW’s designs modified eternally.
Origins of Flame Surfacing
Flame surfacing is usually attributed to Chris Bangle, however that’s solely half the story. The true origins of flame surfacing start with Anders Warming. Warming stands out as the design director for Rolls-Royce at the moment, however he was simply beginning his profession within the 90s. And, actually, that’s the place flame surfacing’s story begins. He says he drew inspiration from drawing the human type. “There, you don’t simply have a look at the define, however the form in between. Like bone construction and muscle,” he says. “Pondering that method makes you the designer of the form earlier than the define, whereas automobile designers have been educated to do the define after which the form.”
As he sketched what would develop into the E85 Z4, Chris Bangle weighed in on the twisted surfaces: “it’s like flames,” he stated. Particularly, he’s referring to the angles and twists within the bodywork that collectively type a form. Thus, flame surfacing. Now, had the general public’s first publicity to flame surfacing been a radical Z4 roadster, issues might need gone in a different way. It wasn’t; as a substitute, the primary look in from the skin was the X Coupe. An early forerunner of the X6, flame surfacing was hardly the one polarizing factor in regards to the X Coupe. It additionally pioneered BMW’s foray into the Sports activities Exercise Coupe phase, which didn’t exist but. Reception was lukewarm, at greatest. Then got here the brand new flame surfaced E65 7 Collection, which was arguably even a much bigger bomb. It was so radical that BMW toned the design down for the automobile’s facelift. Gross sales rose commensurately.
The Frequent False impression of the E60 5 Collection
Maybe essentially the most fascinating twist surrounding flame surfacing is the function of the E60 5 Collection. Whereas typically claimed because the poster youngster for flame surfacing, it was truly “extra it’s personal factor,” in line with creator Steve Saxty. The designer, Davide Arcangeli, targeted on the form inside every panel, like flame surfacing. However moderately than the human type, Arcangeli channeled cloth. Particularly, the way in which cloth stretches throughout the body of an airship/dirigible/zeppelin. In fact, though the E60’s design wasn’t mainly guided by flame surfacing, comparable execution saved it constant sufficient with the E65 7 Collection and its otherworldly design that it’s simple to see why the 2 are lumped collectively.
Regardless of the combination of flowing curves and laborious traces, flame surfacing advanced as a stark response to the extra monolithic designs standard on the time. And prefer it or not, it arguably achieved its purpose: make BMW recognizable. Years on, it’s laborious to say whether or not or not flame surfacing was forward of its time. We expect it existed precisely when it wanted to.
We referred typically to Steve Saxty’s wonderful guide, BMW by Design whereas penning this piece. Examine all of his BMW books out for your self. You’ll discover extra info, unique photos and sketches, and a complete lot extra.
