[deemo319]

Originally Posted by -EndOfAnEra-

The CSL Concept! I genuinely love this thing, vertical grilles and all. It seemed at one point this was to be the new M2, not so sure anymore with the leaks we've seen recently.

SabineBimmer hit the nail on the head, proportionality is why the older grilles (and the 8 series) work so well, and even though vertical the CSL concept has it in spades. Here's some reminder shots from the "street" version:

I agree with you. My choice isn't the green color but the white car is utterly amazing.

The grille execution on the concept was just about perfect in my eye. And I am still in love with that concept car.

[InTheNightKitchen]

Originally Posted by seepete753

BMW should fire both their designers AND their PR department at this point

I don't understand, why should they fire the designers?

Doesn't someone have to approve their designs?

Also, that someone or someone below them overseeing the project is possibly making suggestions?

What am I overlooking?

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by psuibmw

The best grill is hands down ... drum roll 🥁

The e46 and e90 m3 are two of my favorite bmw designs. They're simply pleasant to look at. The e46, especially, had a more utilitarian style, but that's where the beauty is. Maybe efficient is a better descriptor than utilitarian. The design was simply representative of the car. It wasn't trying hard to make a loud statement because it didn't need to. It's analogous to dressing perfectly for an event. Sometimes not appearing to make a statement is a statement in of itself.

[gallian93]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

The new 4 series grill is so bad BMW has to keep spending money on PR to try to justify it.

Haha, you are so right!!!
It like a guy at the bar trying to convince you about why you too should think his girlfriend is hot

[TX3M]

Sorry if this has been posted already, but I came across this video comparing the styling of the incoming and outgoing 4 Series. I found the side-by-side photos to be very good. The Robo-commentary is corny but there are some really funny comments about the new grilles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQYKEy1jjnk

[COBodom]

Originally Posted by MisterF80M3

Sorry, did I hit a nerve?

?

Dude LOL....please don't flatter yourself.

Does my comment confuse you? Lemme break it down for you...

You're posting a pic that has been recycled countless times. Yeah it was funny....when 7 series LCI was released back in Jan of 2019 !!!

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by GenXer

I'm glad the new G22 grille is over-sized and unbecoming. For the first time, I absolutely hate the look of a new BMW and want to keep my old one.

I know right? for a change BMW did us a favour and told us its ok not to upgrade to new car that has same real life performance but looks worse, and the trade off is applecarplay and led mood lighting inside.

[KSag]

The good news is.....BMW has been all over the place with all of their grilles the latest 3 years....depending on the series. That tells me that they haven't settled on the right design yet. That gives me hope that they are still trying new things and maybe a better grille is coming. 🤞🤷🏻*♂️Let's all hope and then vote for our favorite grille with our wallets. If we don't buy, the bad ones go away.

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by KSag

The good news is.....BMW has been all over the place with all of their grills the latest 3 years....depending on the series. That tells me that they haven't settled on the right design yet. That gives me hope that they are still trying new things and maybe a better grill is coming. 🤞🤷🏻*♂️Let's all hope and then vote for our favorite grill with our wallets. If we don't buy, the bad ones go away.

Very good point

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by jstein55

According to Dukec...

"The Hoffmeister [the forward swoop or 'kink' at the base of the window on the rearmost pillar of BMWs], for example — until the G20 every 3 Series had almost the same window graphic. That meant that when you saw prototypes — when you saw a new BMW, it could be the previous model if you just looked at the top of the car. This was something I never understood.

In all these discussions about our icons, people say, 'But you can't change the Hoffmeister, you can't change the kidneys.' But who says so? Mr. Hoffmeister just made one window graphic."

So his reasoning is because it makes you think its an old BMW, so instead for the new 4er, Dukec would like you to think its an old Audi A5 or Chevy Camaro from the window graphic

While they may be true, that is an absolutely dumb reason to completely change the kink. So that means that every single detail needs to change on every generation - nothing should be carried over. GTFO with that nonsense.

EDIT: I just read that article and personally, I think it's a whole bunch of s--t. Nothing he said in the interview provided any sort of conclusion or evidence that BMW design needed an overhaul. Whether you are talking about BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Porsche, all of these German manufacturers have for the longest time designed vehicles that represented what everyone knew them to be - nobody buying these cars care how much harder other "budget" brands or non-premium brands are working. No one buying these German cars sits there thinking why they can't be like all the others. People look/buy a BMW, Audi, Mercedes and knows it's that brand. If sales were on a downward trend, there's an argument to be made but even he pointed out that sales have in fact increased in important markets like the U.S. and China.

[jwr0721]

You'd think on an article with the word grille in the title you people would be able to finally spell the word correctly 🙄

[dappercivility]

Originally Posted by The Automotive Enthusiast

I'm seeing a trend. Thing started going to hell with the F30, but then the 8 series saved the day and then they went to hell again with the 4 series and the X7.

Now it's time for things to go back to looking good. The next iteration of the kidney's will look good......I hope.

Agreed on the F30, one of the ugliest ever

[Law]

Originally Posted by jwr0721

You'd think on an article with the word grille in the title you people would be able to finally spell the word correctly 🙄

To play devil's advocate, it certainly doesn't help that even BMW themselves spell it both ways and use them interchangeably in this article (which is taken from BMW's website).

One would think that at least BMW would be consistent.

[Cortexiphan]

I don’t understand those who call this “Oh they’re trying to convince us with marketing”. Well, when you liked the small grills, they were also trying to convince you with marketing. And most of you who hate the new grills, you were in your better and happier years when BMW was marketing the small grills. So yeah, that’s the definition of nostalgic attachment.

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by Law

To play devil's advocate, it certainly doesn't help that even BMW themselves spell it both ways and use them interchangeably in this article (which is taken from BMW's website).

One would think that at least BMW would be consistent.

Just had an epiphany! This grille could look a lot better, almost like an air intake for a jet engine. Remove the slats and paint the inside walls of the grille the body color.

[seepete753]

Originally Posted by InTheNightKitchen

Doesn't someone have to approve their designs?

Also, that someone or someone below them overseeing the project is possibly making suggestions?

You're right I forgot about them, they should get fired as well. Thanks for the reminder.

The designers presented this mess and it was apparently the best one they had and the big wigs ok'd. So there is blood on the designers hands as well for this. You could argue the PR department is just doing their job but if this article is the best they can drum up... yikes

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by psuibmw

The best grill is hands down ... drum roll 🥁

Mmmmmm

[professor_yo]

Evolution is supposed to be forward movement. New 4 series grille is backwards in every way. Shoulda been titled "the reset of the kidney grille"

[GenXer]

Originally Posted by Tallest

I know right? for a change BMW did us a favour and told us its ok not to upgrade to new car that has same real life performance but looks worse, and the trade off is applecarplay and led mood lighting inside.

I have factory mood lighting inside my F32. That is if the mood is Halloween inspired.

[-c-]

He set the record straight! The new guys are destroying a brand! Their rein may be short lived!

[CDN-Driver]

I just don't understand how this happens. How many non-designer executives would have signed off on this "grille"?
It shakes ones confidence in the brand as a whole, what other atrocities could these executives sign off on, non-design related.

[garethm]

I like the style of the grille of Z8's.