This week's Autoweek features a fascinating interview with BMW Group design director Chris Bangle. No matter how you feel about Bangle or the designs that those under him have created, he's a man with a well crafted opinions and ideas. And with his new promotion he's also directly responsible for the final sign off of the design for the next generation MINI.

I've debated posting this for days due to the assumed anti-Bangle feelings of many out there. Frankly I didn't want to see dozens of responses saying essentially the same thing. But then I figured no matter how bad it gets… it couldn't reach the levels that the Roundel “letter to the editor” section has over the past two years.

Here's some excerpt from the article:

For a man who has been reviled on the web as a “diabolical super robot sent from the future by Mercedes-Benz to destroy BMW,” Chris Bangle is a pretty calm, cool and collected guy.

Despite the scathing criticisms he's received, BMW's controversial design chief remains resolutely committed to design that looks forward. Retro and Chris Bangle do not go together. He is pleased that some of his critics are beginning to grudgingly approve of some of BMW's futuristic styling.

…Contrary to some industry rumors, Bangle says he has no intention to leave BMW any time soon.

This in spite of the fact that Adrian van Hooydonk of BMW's Design Works in Los Angeles has been named to be head of BMW brand design. The job is a new title, Bangle says.

Bangle says he was doing two jobs — heading design for BMW brand and for BMW Group, which includes Mini and Rolls-Royce. With Van Hooydonk on board, Bangle will be free to do his job as group design chief.

“What was missing until now was to get all the players on my team that could be responsible for their various marques,” he says. “Adrian will come into a role that did not exist before. There was not the role of just the BMW car design chief.”

Bangle points out that a car company's designs, particularly BMW, are not the work of any one man. BMW's designs are the result of extensive research into form, a well-thought-out corporate philosophy and a committed team effort.

He knows not everyone likes BMW's designs but he is gratified that some critics seem to be changing their minds.

…Bangle is comfortable taking the heat. He relishes his new job as group design chief overseeing BMW, Rolls-Royce and Mini. “A very important part of what a group design chief should do is work on the people balance. We have a philosophy here at BMW of trying to get the most out of a single designer on a car instead of taking a car and splitting it up among 20 people.”

You can read the entire article here