A few months ago, BMW unveiled the new G22 4-Series coupe. The world was completely shocked when they saw the front of this car as it was just so ugly. Gone went the traditional horizontal kidney grille, and instead came a horizontal kidney grille seen in some of the older cars. Unfortunately, this grille was absolutely massive and extremely ugly. The whole car was ruined by the grille but this is just the start of things to come.
The thing is, this grille isn’t exclusive to the new 4-Series. Soon after, BMW released the IX which looked like a circus on wheels. It truly is a laughable car and in all honesty, it just shows that the design team has really lost the plot. However, things got even worse when the new M3 and M4 came out with their pig nose bumpers. What’s all that about?
BMW has then released a few images of what the new I4 will look like, and again it has that horrible grille. Renders of the new 5-Series and 7-Series show that horrible vertical grille. The car could look like Ariana Grande on wheels from the side of the car or the rear, but that bumper just ruins everything. It is horrid and it makes you forget everything good about the car.
I have heard on many forums that the reason they’re designing cars like this to satisfy the Chinese markets. If so, then why don’t they do what they’ve always done? What I mean is make these designs exclusive for the Chinese markets only and offer everywhere else a normal design. In China, BMW makes many exclusive China-only cars there, including LWB versions of their sedan cars.
So then, let’s explore the world of BMW design and see what’s actually going on in Bavaria.
BMW Made A Load Of Ugly Cars During The Noughties
BMW has made so many ugly cars in the past. Especially during the noughties where they made hideous things such as the E65 7-Series, the E60 5-Series, the E63 6-series, the E83 X3, the E71 X6, and of course the F07 5-Series GT. So many hideous cars that should have never been built looking like that.
The E60 5-Series was a car that did grow on enthusiasts. Mainly because of the 500hp M5 with its Sauber F1 V10. The touring also looked decent too. The E63 M6 was less popular mainly due to price and the fact it was just so hideous. The noughties was also a terrible era for BMW’s interior designs. Complex functions, too many buttons, early i-drive, etc. Plus reliability was at its absolute lowest.
But the noughties did have a lot of great-looking BMW’s too. The E9x 3-Series, the e82 1-series, the Z8, and the E85/E86 Z4.
BMW did make many ugly cars during the noughties, but they were forgiven due to their excellent engines. The S85 V10, the S65 V8, and the N54 just to name a few. They were unreliable but they were extremely powerful, loud, and fun. They also gave us some great models too such as the 335i, the M3, the M5, and the 3-liter diesel models.
BMW Today, Tomorrow and In The Future
BMW today is a huge brand. They sell many cars each year, hence why listening to their customers is beyond important. So what does BMW do? They basically put their fingers in their ears and do what they want to do. This is fine if they had a team of great designers etc, but they don’t. Instead, they have a team of designers who think sticking nostrils on a car is a great and appealing idea.
It may attract the Chinese market since studies show they do like a big grille. However, for everyone else it is hideous. BMW says the new design idea will grow on all of us, but no. It seriously won’t and that’s because it’s everything we don’t want. Soon every BMW will be fitted with a stupid grille and it will just ruin the whole car.
Driving-wise, the modern BMWs are at their height. Amazing dynamics, blistering performance, and great engines. They’re on top in terms of driving dynamics. Then the interiors I would say are better than Mercedes right now. So organized and such high quality.
There are a few good-looking cars such as the Z4 (which was inspired by the Z8), the 8-series, the 6-series GT, and the new 1-series. Everything else is either boring, ugly, or hideous.
The worst of the new BMW’s is the SUVs. BMW never really cracks the egg when it comes to SUV design. The current X2 and X5 are probably their most successful projects. Everything else has not worked at all in terms of design. The new X6 is the worst one, and that car really does look hideous. It looks too big and it has too many sharp lines to it. Then the X4 looks squashed from the back and the X7 has a stupidly large grille.
What We Want From BMW
What the fans want, is a car that looks normal and drives well. People buy with their eyes, so if the car looks terrible guess what? The car doesn’t sell. However, since BMW is so popular bad designs probably won’t affect their sales.
The new 4-series should have had the same front-end as the new 3-series. or a similar front end to the new 8. same with the M3 and M4. Then the new IX is a complete monstrosity and if that’s their Model X rival, good luck. It’s everything we don’t want.
Luckily companies like Prior design are coming out with front bumpers for the new M3 and M4 which look far better than the OEM bumpers. BMW needs to take note of this, as we guarantee they will become a popular mod. Luckily, BMW has a chance to redeem themselves on design with the LCI facelifts for the 4-series, M3, and M4. Sadly, the last facelift on the M3/M4 models, etc were just lights and interior updates.
Featured image via: motor1.com