Say goodbye to flame surfacing — and hello to layered surfacing. Since the X Coupé concept car in 2001, BMW design has been dictated by the flame surfacing theme introduced under Chris Bangle.
Now there’s a successor - layered surfacing - initiated under new group design boss Adrian van Hooydonk. While emphasising that flame surfacing is not consigning to the history books, BMW says, “It has been developed to enhance its effect further.”
The idea is to smooth the shutlines and joints within the body for what van Hooydonk describes as “a more cohesive and harmonious appearance”.
Body surfaces are layered on top of each other in a move that is also claimed to improve aerodynamic efficiency without the requirement for any additional body elements.
“By using the structure of the surface without adding any appendages, we’re able to optimise the airflow,” says van Hooydonk.
The prime examples on his super-coupe concept, he says, are the A-pillars, which channel the airflow at the front in the same way as the wing-profile rear lights.
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ThwartedEfforts
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
As long as it has that badge on the front, eh?
theop
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
oh oh! even if it was nice , can you imagine the repair bills?
"that will be £26,500 + vat sir, it includes a new door, mirror, offside front panel and 215 hrs of labour"
Big Mac
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
I do like the idea of a light quick car that's good on fuel. I think if you strip away the huge arches, silly Pilers (A&C), glass doors?!?. You would be left with a nice package.
Big Mac
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
BriMarsh is spot on. I think they are going to have to make most of that out of the Plastic they use on X5/6 front fenders. Otherwise that's going to be "Un-Insurable".
I do PDR and you can forget fixing a "Door Ding" in that rear quarter. Straight to the body shop for some Bondo and paint. $$$$ And don't forget that you can't buff out a scratch very well on a plastic panel.
stagata1
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
Concepts are intended to provoke comment and this one is certainly achieving it's aim. The feedback will be useful to the product planners.
We all know that some elements will never make it or get watered down for production, but anything which moves the game on for BMW will be welcomed by many buyers put off by 'Flame'.
ESB
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
Andre Lee cracks me up.
michael knight
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
The problem I have with this design approach is that if you took away all the distracting black panel-breaks at the front and rear, this car would lbe a bloated and ungainly mess IMO.
It's a cheap trick to break up surfaces with a different colour, and one that that takes away the genuinely innovative touches, like the exquisite rear light/C-pillar transform. But I do like the blue 'edging'.
Andrew Lee
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
Instead of FLAME surfacing, how about FLANGE surfacing?!
Peter Cavellini
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
Are BMW working for Mattel? this looks like a kids toy,i don't think the three series is going to look like this short of having clip-on removable panels like Smart cars this will never see the light of day on the roads, to expensive, to small a "niche"god! how i hate that word,i hope the toy makers are looking at this because kids are going to buy them in their millions, for their toy boxes!
Peter Cavellini.
fouad
re: Goodbye flame surfacing, hello layered surfacing
I always want to hate BMW because of their sheer ... Marketing pleasure or Efficient Marketing ha ha ha. But you have to give it to them, they are real innovators. The engines win more awards than any other manufacturer (more power and less fuel) and their design (a much more subjective item) breaks the mould and really pushes the .. envelope. This is the car I have been waiting for: low cc, green, hybrid, economical (in fact, these are all the same things!) yet sporty AND relatively roomy and light. Truly modern. A new generation of cars, a new paradigm. Expect more of this from other manufacturers now!
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