Autocar: BMW design boss defends radical styling direction

IM2C · 10-11-2019, 10:47 AM

Consumers will vote with their wallets. My vote will be NO.

lcs1956 · 10-11-2019, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Meh... ugly car can sell well. Just look at Teslas. We have a giant Asprin, Platypus, Aztek with gullwings. They are doing just fine.

They're just selling them to the wrong people.

heavyD^2 · 10-11-2019, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ted99

I had a series of BMW's until the Bangle-Butt came and I switched to Mercedes for my next three cars. Bangle went and I came back to BMW. But, when my two BMW leases are up, next year, it's back to Mercedes for me because of these hideous snouts.

Meh. MB's new designs are good for people that want to blend in and disappear in traffic as their new front ends are incredibly generic and boring. I was going to compare it to Toyota but IMO a new Camry looks more exciting than most new MB's.

heavyD^2 · 10-11-2019, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0011

Consumers will vote with their wallets. My vote will be NO.

I always wonder why people say things like this. Who cares? Certainly not BMW as sales have been good this year outselling MB in September. In the consumer world you don't really matter as an individual as there's always a lineup of people that will take your place purchasing the product. Your NO vote isn't hurting BMW.

530iDriver · 10-11-2019, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Well, he's an idiot.

Then apply for his job then and shows us your better design ideas.

530iDriver · 10-11-2019, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0011

Consumers will vote with their wallets. My vote will be NO.

I always wonder why people say things like this. Who cares? Certainly not BMW as sales have been good this year outselling MB in September. In the consumer world you don't really matter as an individual as there's always a lineup of people that will take your place purchasing the product. Your NO vote isn't hurting BMW.

Amen. Like venting in the ''nets has any effect on executive decisions..

Paisano · 10-11-2019, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Hooydonk-Honker?

Nice! #2 make it so.

scoobysaurus · 10-11-2019, 11:51 AM

I don't mind the snout to be honest. I found it ugly at first but started warming up to it eventually. I find it less offensive than Audi and Lexus grills. But I probably won't be getting this car for other reasons - I have enough coupes and wanted a convertible M4. The moment I knew this was getting a soft top I thought I'd wait for a C8 vert or a CPO F83. I picked an SL63 over an M6 vert and CPO BCGT vert back in 2015 for the same reason.

otay · 10-11-2019, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMe90

BMW design has always been ahead of its time. People complain initially because the design is unfamiliar. But years down the road, the design becomes mainstream because everyone starts copying BMW. That's why the e60 still looks great today, more so than when it first came out.

Nah. Lexus and Audi have had huge grilles for years. BMW is the one copying...

Logical · 10-11-2019, 12:47 PM

Where do u put the license plate??

cc3 · 10-11-2019, 01:43 PM

Stopped buying BMW the design is so poor. Better options available.

IM2C · 10-11-2019, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Quote:

Originally Posted by M0011

Consumers will vote with their wallets. My vote will be NO.

I always wonder why people say things like this. Who cares? Certainly not BMW as sales have been good this year outselling MB in September. In the consumer world you don't really matter as an individual as there's always a lineup of people that will take your place purchasing the product. Your NO vote isn't hurting BMW.

Let me unpack this for you bud. What you have is a text book "straw man" argument.

A straw man is a form of argument and an informal fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent's argument, while actually refuting an argument that was not presented by that opponent.

I stated 2 facts.

1. Consumers will vote with their wallets. This is an undisputed fact. Some will buy the car and some won't.

2. I will not.

Your straw man argument states that I believe BMW cares what I do and that I matter as an individual.

It may turn out that new Frankengrille will be a sales hit. It may not. I simply stated that I will not buy the car. I did it on a car forum under a relevant topic.
Rant over.

Sophisticated Redneck · 10-11-2019, 02:40 PM

My biggest problem with this: ITS JUST LAZY...WHY can't their be a East and West version of the grills? The bump in sales would more then make up for the additional production line costs...like I said just freaking LAZY from BMW...then trying to convince us it's "edgy" and "progressive" instead of the truth of who it was Really designed for...lazy asshats

Hmmmm, me thinks there is going to be a HUGE aftermarket for new BMW's nose reduction kits!!! OR maybe this is BMW'S diabolical plan all along...it comes with this hideous snout unless you pay an extra 5K for the "Western Hemisphere" version.... Brilliant!!! Well played BMW....

J-RO · 10-11-2019, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Those are all subjective statements. We all find different things beautiful or ugly......tasty or nasty.....etc. There are no definitive answers when it comes to subjective things.

Isn't every post by everyone on this forum subjective?

Sedan_Clan · 10-11-2019, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-RO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Those are all subjective statements. We all find different things beautiful or ugly......tasty or nasty.....etc. There are no definitive answers when it comes to subjective things.

Isn't every post by everyone on this forum subjective?

Not every, but most....yes.

Ross Z4M40i · 10-11-2019, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkDemma

Who actually LIKES these huge grills? I've heard that it's primarily to the Chinese market who love the things.

I do. I mean I really do. Until some 20 years ago I loved the design of a LOT of BMW models. Then a long period followed where I practically didn't like ANY. I drove Audi, Alfa Romeo (even though a friend of mine is a BMW dealer) until the new Z4 saw the light. It was different and that convinced me to buy one. Of course, the technics and performance were always top notch, but the design did nothing for me.
The new 4 stands out again, and I love it. Really hope they don't change the design too much for the production version 🤔

I can't believe that I'm the only one??

Sophisticated Redneck · 10-11-2019, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ross Z4M40i

I do. I mean I really do. Until some 20 years ago I loved the design of a LOT of BMW models. Then a long period followed where I practically didn't like ANY. I drove Audi, Alfa Romeo (even though a friend of mine is a BMW dealer) until the new Z4 saw the light. It was different and that convinced me to buy one. Of course, the technics and performance were always top notch, but the design did nothing for me.
The new 4 stands out again, and I love it. Really hope they don't change the design to much for the production version 🤔

I can't believe that I'm the only one??

Ya I think you literally are the only one...Are you Chinese? Zing!!! Racist joke of the day!!

rlmesq · 10-11-2019, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorde

Bangle'd

Wrong. Hooydonked.

rlmesq · 10-11-2019, 03:06 PM

///M TOWN · 10-11-2019, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Logical

Where do u put the license plate??

In the trash.

Front plates are for the garage wall at best.

bmwfen · 10-11-2019, 03:28 PM

Looks ugly, reminiscent to the design trials from the 2000s with the E60 and E65. M7ch better to keep the style when everyone is trying to be 'original' with 'radical' (ridiculous in fact) styling.

sq86 · 10-11-2019, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Quote:

Originally Posted by sq86

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Quote:

Originally Posted by trey100

Nice try at turning this into "changing to stay ahead of the competition". How about addressing his lack of creating a beautiful and different design rather than what we have which is different and ugly design?

Those are all subjective statements. We all find different things beautiful or ugly......tasty or nasty.....etc. There are no definitive answers when it comes to subjective things.

Right… just like Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, or Jennifer Lopez are "subjectively" attractive. There are underlying themes which cause us to see "beauty." One may be more important to you than I but there's certain shared commonalities. I understand what you're trying to get at but you have to call a spade a spade when you see one. And this is a Fugly one.

The most poignant line I took away from his commentary was this: "If you are no longer successful, people will immediately start saying you need to make changes, but then you are in panic mode." This is where they're at right now, or about to be. The poop is about to hit the fan in Munich. They're already under pressure considering their failed (in their eyes) EV/hybrid rollout. Seems like a bad time to start messing with design language at this point but we've seen failures happen before. It's just a hard pill to swallow for those of us who enjoyed those shared design commonalities for so long before this.

Failed in their eyes?

They see it as a success.

Have you seen any of the commentary on why Krueger stepped down or was let go? Outwardly, sure they want us to see it as you say but they don't feel it is a true success.

10-11-2019, 10:47 AM	#155
IM2C Major General 2099 Rep 5,378 Posts Drives: ∞ Improbability Drive Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: FL iTrader: (9)	Consumers will vote with their wallets. My vote will be NO. __________________ ///\| g87 \| f87 Comp \| g29 M40i \| f97 Comp \| f80 Comp \| f80 \| f30 \| e92 \| tt \| S5 \| e92 \| 350z \| e90 \|
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10-11-2019, 11:51 AM	#162
scoobysaurus Lieutenant 715 Rep 445 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Desert iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 Range Rover Sp ... [0.00] 2014 McLaren MP4-12C [0.00] 2016 Dodge SRT Viper [0.00] 2012 BMW 640i F13 [0.00] 2015 Nissan Patrol Y62 [0.00]	I don't mind the snout to be honest. I found it ugly at first but started warming up to it eventually. I find it less offensive than Audi and Lexus grills. But I probably won't be getting this car for other reasons - I have enough coupes and wanted a convertible M4. The moment I knew this was getting a soft top I thought I'd wait for a C8 vert or a CPO F83. I picked an SL63 over an M6 vert and CPO BCGT vert back in 2015 for the same reason.
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10-11-2019, 12:47 PM	#164
Logical Captain 245 Rep 636 Posts Drives: 2014 M5 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Berkshire County iTrader: (1)	Where do u put the license plate?? __________________ 2017 F86 X6M 2014 F10 M5 2015 F85 X5 M 2015 F86 X6 M (Retired) 2014 F10 M5 (Retired) 2010 E70 X5 M (Retired), 2010 E92 M3 MT (Retired) 2006 E60 M5 (Retired), 2000 E39 M5 MT (Retired) 1999 E39 328i (Retired), 1995 525i (Retired) 1987 325i (Totaled - that was fun!)
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10-11-2019, 01:43 PM	#165
cc3 Major 640 Rep 1,333 Posts Drives: 1M, GT4, M2 M140i G40 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: .UK iTrader: (0)	Stopped buying BMW the design is so poor. Better options available.
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10-11-2019, 02:40 PM	#167
Sophisticated Redneck Lieutenant Colonel 1456 Rep 1,564 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW X5 50i Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	My biggest problem with this: ITS JUST LAZY...WHY can't their be a East and West version of the grills? The bump in sales would more then make up for the additional production line costs...like I said just freaking LAZY from BMW...then trying to convince us it's "edgy" and "progressive" instead of the truth of who it was Really designed for...lazy asshats Hmmmm, me thinks there is going to be a HUGE aftermarket for new BMW's nose reduction kits!!! OR maybe this is BMW'S diabolical plan all along...it comes with this hideous snout unless you pay an extra 5K for the "Western Hemisphere" version.... Brilliant!!! Well played BMW.... Last edited by Sophisticated Redneck; 10-11-2019 at 02:48 PM..
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10-11-2019, 03:06 PM	#173
rlmesq Lieutenant Colonel 1037 Rep 1,508 Posts Drives: 2018 440i M Sport Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Chico, CA iTrader: (0)
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10-11-2019, 03:28 PM	#175
bmwfen Registered 4 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW E90 LCI Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Bulgaria iTrader: (0)	Looks ugly, reminiscent to the design trials from the 2000s with the E60 and E65. M7ch better to keep the style when everyone is trying to be 'original' with 'radical' (ridiculous in fact) styling.
	Appreciate 0 Quote