Another extraordinary automotive designer from Quebec has made the news. Karim Habib is leaving BMW to join the ranks of Mercedes-Benz at their Stuttgart Design Center in Germany.
A pre-eminent new-generation designer, Habib gave the auto world the spectacular BMW Concept CS as well as the interior of the 5 Series. However, his stint with BMW was made that much more important by his creation of the body of the recently introduced 2009 7 Series full-size sedan.
Habib became famous as one of the prospective successors to BMW's controversial ex-chief designer, Chris Bangle. Leaving Munich for Stuttgart, he joins another promising young stylist, Gordon Wagener, recently named chief designer at Mercedes-Benz.
Born in Lebanon, Habib emigrated to Montreal in 1981 with his family. Inspired by Bertone, at the tender age of 10 he already had his own collection of vehicle designs. He received his engineering degree from McGill University in 1993, then continued his studies at the Art Center Europe in Vevey, Switzerland.
He went on to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, the Mecca of automotive design. He received his Bachelor of Science in Transportation in 1998. Even before the end of his studies, Chris Bangle had marked him as a promising new addition to the BMW team. He worked for the Bavarian brand from 1998 to 2009. His future will now shine under the sign of the silver star.
photo:BMW
 |
A pre-eminent new-generation designer, Habib gave the auto world the spectacular BMW Concept CS as well as the interior of the 5 Series. However, his stint with BMW was made that much more important by his creation of the body of the recently introduced 2009 7 Series full-size sedan.
Habib became famous as one of the prospective successors to BMW's controversial ex-chief designer, Chris Bangle. Leaving Munich for Stuttgart, he joins another promising young stylist, Gordon Wagener, recently named chief designer at Mercedes-Benz.
Born in Lebanon, Habib emigrated to Montreal in 1981 with his family. Inspired by Bertone, at the tender age of 10 he already had his own collection of vehicle designs. He received his engineering degree from McGill University in 1993, then continued his studies at the Art Center Europe in Vevey, Switzerland.
He went on to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, the Mecca of automotive design. He received his Bachelor of Science in Transportation in 1998. Even before the end of his studies, Chris Bangle had marked him as a promising new addition to the BMW team. He worked for the Bavarian brand from 1998 to 2009. His future will now shine under the sign of the silver star.
photo:BMW
Article Gallery