[jwzimm]

Hey all,

I am a little bored so I figured I would throw this out to the masses.

Am I the only one annoyed by the trend toward useless grills and ducts on cars? I'm talking about the ones that look to be big scoops but have a blank plate or just molding in the mesh.

Case in point is the new 3 and 4 series. When you go up to the sport and M-sport lines they change up the front fascias and add these enormous grills that go nowhere. Perhaps it is my engineering brain going crazy but why the heck would I want a car with useless (and presumably draggy) blocked off grills on the front.

Even the new M3 and M4 have a little of this going on in the form of the extra creases on the front ducts. It just seems like a waste and a design element for design sake. The old M3 also had those little vents in the hood that, as far as I know, did nothing too.

Another example I just saw is on the new Mercedes GLE Coupe: http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/09/m...oupe-official/ Those front side scoops do nothing!

These kinds of things remind me of the fake hood scoops you would see on Toyota SUV's.

End of my rant.

[KingOfJericho]

My 2006 Lotus Exige had a completely blocked roof scoop air duct. It was functional in all subsequent years but it was a real buzz kill when I looked at it up close for the first time.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

I've been wondering how long it is going to take for the electric vehicles to stop having a fake front grill.

[Kiwi]

Come on America has been doing this ever since they started building cars and still do with mussel car bodies attached to poor designed suspension that are only any good in a straight line doing burn outs forget cornering.
Even today the only photos you will find of American sports cars are of burnouts.

Fake is what America has been built on.

[IEDEI]

the 1M has really big openings in the front bumper----ALL of which are functional...i'm assuming the new M3/M4 front bumper vents and openings are all functional as well, no? considering the F80/F82 styling is evolved from the 1M more than the last M3. the side creases open into the front wheel well and serve to cool the brakes.....they're definitely functional.

[jwzimm]

The 1M is definitely not ones of the cars I am referring to. I am more referring in general to the trend, not any specific car/brand.

[jwzimm]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Come on America has been doing this ever since they started building cars and still do with mussel car bodies attached to poor designed suspension that are only any good in a straight line doing burn outs forget cornering.
Even today the only photos you will find of American sports cars are of burnouts.

Fake is what America has been built on.

Wow, what the heck does country of origin have to do with it? The cars I referred to were German btw.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by jwzimm

The 1M is definitely not ones of the cars I am referring to. I am more referring in general to the trend, not any specific car/brand.

you specifically mentioned the new M3 and M4 in your post, which is why i am discussing the 1M (which directly influenced the F80/F82 details)

[jwzimm]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

you specifically mentioned the new M3 and M4 in your post, which is why i am discussing the 1M (which directly influenced the F80/F82 details)

True. I do not know if the new M3 has the same ducts like the 1M though. It also has influence from the M6 which also has a lot of styling in the front scoops that seem a little "busy".

[Bigrob126]

AMERICA? US made functioning hood scoops on ALL muscle cars in the 60s & Early 70s....Ram Air's and Cowl Induction...the list goes on