The Big Picture
We owe Chris Bangle an apology. The avant-garde BMW designer was roundly castigated when his provocative reworks of the 5 Series and 7 Series sedans hit the streets in the early 2000s. The undercut bodysides, contorted surfacing, and edgy detailing offended the auto industry’s chattering classes.
Yet even the so-called “Bangle butt,” the squared-off trunklid with unusual cutlines that improved straight-line stability in crosswinds and
