[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Artemis

With oversized front end grilles as apparent new design language, BMW is hitting a sensitive nerve among its loyal fanbase. If research pointed out that such design feature would be trending in some markets, then consider making a special edition for those markets. But don't disregard the main 'bread & butter' market or be overly confident that the main market will adapt to the radical design change. Car enthusiasts may vent their discomfort on car forums. But most displeased customers won't post comments - they simply quietly go buy their next car elsewhere. And BMW may possibly wonder whether it's because of the economy.

It may be a new design for BMW but enlarged grilles is actually an old design trend started by Audi and others more than a decade ago and copied by Lexus and recently Mercedes with BMW likely the last to copy and follow this trend.

The problem is the swollen kidney grille doesn't work aesthetically IMO just like the Lexus Spindle grille also didn't work and still invites extreme opinions, mostly negative.

As well, I just think that the enlarged grille trend is at the end of it's design trend cycle. Electric vehicles are becoming more prominent with each passing year and they don't need grilles, never mind big ones. I think the next design trend will actually move in the opposite direction more like Tesla and less like Lexus.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

The E65 had record sales but that didn't happened until after after the LCI facelift to rid of the Bangle butt. Same as this generation. If the G80 will have record sales, it won't be until after the LCI facelift to rid of the swollen kidney.

The LCI occurred in 2005-ish, and the car sold the most annual units in 2003, Bangle Butt and all. The car was sold nearly four full years as an LCI, and only three years and a couple of months pre-LCI, and the total units sold are pretty damn close (...pre-LCI vs post-LCI), so you are factually incorrect.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Tacoma

As well, I just think that the enlarged grille trend is at the end of it's design trend cycle. Electric vehicles are becoming more prominent with each passing year and they don't need grilles, never mind big ones. I think the next design trend will actually move in the opposite direction more like Tesla and less like Lexus.

Take a look at the BMW Vision iNEXT front end (see here):

[///Mthusiast]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Take a look at the BMW Vision iNEXT front end (see here):

Looks exactly like a naked mole rat, right down to the color even

[gf2015m4]

My last BMW. Porsche here I come...

[Covfefe]

I advise everyone to do as I will by sending BMW a job application including your favorite hot wheels model, preferred Hitler-stache grille to front fascia ratio, and sketches made with your non-dominant hand while plastered. I have the utmost confidence that we can unseat van Hooydonk by Christmas.

[enigma99a]

I showed my wife tonight and she's not a car person at all. What do you think of the 4 concept and these spy shots? She laughed and said it was ugly. LOL

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by enigma99a

I showed my wife tonight and she's not a car person at all. What do you think of the 4 concept and these spy shots? She laughed and said it was ugly. LOL

Yeah well every woman I know thinks a GT3 is ugly, or at the very least, unattractive and uninteresting, so that's not saying much.

[Colinv6]

I was in my local dealers yesterday looking at a F30 for my wife, and was genuinely shocked at the grilles on most new BMW’s, they are just way to big, the new 1er is actually a good looking car except for the front. Those grilles are bigger than the X3’s.

Even the salesman was saying he’d seen the G80 leak shot and said it was all getting out of hand.

[gds52]

Can we please refer to these as Lung Grilles ?

[Norhidem]

If they had a sewer rat as inspiration they F'cking nailed it! Good job, really love how they constructed this of, of the critter i killed during my last weekend drive.

[evanescent03]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Yeah well every woman I know thinks a GT3 is ugly, or at the very least, unattractive and uninteresting, so that's not saying much.

Luckily for me .... my wife loves the GT3. She prefers it over most/all 911s bc of the #racecar wing! #winning . some poor GT3 will eventually fall into my hands

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

Luckily for me .... my wife loves the GT3. She prefers it over most/all 911s bc of the #racecar wing! #winning . some poor GT3 will eventually fall into my hands

You are #winning! Well done!

[6MTFTMFW]

I don't care what it looks like
The last BMW with 6 speed manual is a total FU to all the tesla drivers.
That's what I'm after so I'm a buyer sight unseen when time comes.

[AtlantaDude]

Originally Posted by 6MTFTMFW

I don't care what it looks like
The last BMW with 6 speed manual is a total FU to all the tesla drivers.
That's what I'm after so I'm a buyer sight unseen when time comes.

Coming from a 6MT E92 (owned about 6 years), i'll take my Tesla over this thing any day. Fuck having a manual in Atlanta traffic. Enjoy your car tho!

Sincerely,
Tesla Driver

[Covfefe]

Originally Posted by AtlantaDude

Coming from a 6MT E92 (owned about 6 years), i'll take my Tesla over this thing any day. Fuck having a manual in Atlanta traffic. Enjoy your car tho!

Sincerely,
Tesla Driver

Instant torque lets you "shoot the gap" in traffic as well. As a fellow (near) Atlantan, a quick, gearless EV is appealing.

[seis-speed]

Originally Posted by 6MTFTMFW

I don't care what it looks like
The last BMW with 6 speed manual

Yes.
If I hate the grilles, I will get a dark color, but 6MT > Grilles.

[MParallel]

Ah in all its glory!

Finally we can put this trivial debate to rest.

[MParallel]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Doesn't the Alfa Grille take up the similar length of the M3/M4 Kidney Grille?

Yea, or close.

Lets dub this the "Double Alfa" grille.

[2011zx10R]

Originally Posted by Artemis

With oversized front end grilles as apparent new design language, BMW is hitting a sensitive nerve among its loyal fanbase. If research pointed out that such design feature would be trending in some markets, then consider making a special edition for those markets. But don't disregard the main 'bread & butter' market or be overly confident that the main market will adapt to the radical design change. Car enthusiasts may vent their discomfort on car forums. But most displeased customers won't post comments - they simply quietly go buy their next car elsewhere. And BMW may possibly wonder whether it's because of the economy.

Originally Posted by Artemis

With oversized front end grilles as apparent new design language, BMW is hitting a sensitive nerve among its loyal fanbase. If research pointed out that such design feature would be trending in some markets, then consider making a special edition for those markets. But don't disregard the main 'bread & butter' market or be overly confident that the main market will adapt to the radical design change. Car enthusiasts may vent their discomfort on car forums. But most displeased customers won't post comments - they simply quietly go buy their next car elsewhere. And BMW may possibly wonder whether it's because of the economy.

I've never owned a sedan "ever" until F80!

I like the new G80 but you're 100% right
About moving to another vehicle!

For me I was die hard GTI loyalest. Had 4 including Mark 7 performance pack.

I waited on the Golf R.😭

I was hoping for.

"Stock"
"6 speed"
350hp+ AWD
0 to 60 4.5

Sunroof and more aggressive styling.

They said no

I purchased a CPO 2016 M3

If VW decides to build my car I'd take a hard look at 6 speed 400hp Golf R

[RedRockM3]

I haven't posted in quite a long time and now I just can't sit back and not voice my opinion on the design trend affecting some of BMW's new vehicles. I've been a loyal BMW customer since 1999 when I purchased my first BMW, the M Coupe. I've purchased five additional BMWs since then, always feeling that the design evolution resulted in a favorable appearance and better performance. However, the new trend of oversized front grilles, especially as seen on the Concept 4, is a huge disappointment that is causing me to reconsider my loyalty. My heart was set on upgrading my M235i to the new M3, but this will not happen if the M3 design incorporates the ridiculously large grill. For the first time ever, I'm test driving and seriously considering moving on to Mercedes AMG. I only hope that all of these rumors are exaggerated and new M3 is a more reasonable evolutionary model.

[6MTFTMFW]

Originally Posted by RedRockM3

I haven't posted in quite a long time and now I just can't sit back and not voice my opinion on the design trend affecting some of BMW's new vehicles. I've been a loyal BMW customer since 1999 when I purchased my first BMW, the M Coupe. I've purchased five additional BMWs since then, always feeling that the design evolution resulted in a favorable appearance and better performance. However, the new trend of oversized front grilles, especially as seen on the Concept 4, is a huge disappointment that is causing me to reconsider my loyalty. My heart was set on upgrading my M235i to the new M3, but this will not happen if the M3 design incorporates the ridiculously large grill. For the first time ever, I'm test driving and seriously considering moving on to Mercedes AMG. I only hope that all of these rumors are exaggerated and new M3 is a more reasonable evolutionary model.

BMW goes through design crisis every few years. Nothing new here. Just wait for LCI and they'll fix all the ugly pieces.
Remember the pre LCI 7 series and 5 series in early 2000's - those were some of the ugliest cars ever made thanks to Bangle but BMW bounced back. Pre LCI e90 was pretty ugly too with mustache grill and then they fixed it.