It was exactly six years since BMW caused a sensation since BMW at the IAA show in Frankfurt. It not only presented the second generation 4 series, but also signaled the company’s wish to exceed its grille. Vertical kidneys were nothing new. They had been there for decades and originally debut in the 303 medium -sized limousine in 1933. However, the daring show car from 2019 showed an attention -grip -in design with a much more striking look.
That was just the beginning. Oversized grills later accepted horizontal kidneys on the X7 and XM. Before concept 4, the G11 7 series had already received a more impressive radiator grille for its facelift. Since then, this radical design approach has triggered online immense criticism. But did it really violate sales? The design manager of the BMW group does not believe that.
Speak to Carexpert At the IAA, Adrian van Hooydonk said this time in Munich that the bold grilles had actually lured more buyers:
“There were no setbacks of customers. In fact, we naturally noticed all negative comments, but we never saw it in the sales figures. Actually, on the contrary. In any way or in any way, we didn’t have the feeling that we had to react.”
Of course, some would argue that it is impossible to quantify exactly how many customers have lost or won BMW after they have taken jumbo grills. We will say that 2023 was the best year of the company of all time, with 2,253,835 cars. It almost certainly attracted some buyers while they alienated others. The chances are good that many simply didn’t take care of the front design, while others decided to ignore it and still buy the car.
Hoydonk said it was difficult for BMW to please everyone because people have a different taste. He mentioned China, where “people still ask for big grilling”, while in other regions the demand is less pronounced. Despite the counter -reaction on social media and websites, the Bavarian brand does not regret that this road has taken. Spy shots of the G70 7 series LCI and the next generation G67 X7 have already shown that the big kidneys stay here.
BMW will continue the duality of the kidney grille by offering both vertical and horizontal layouts depending on the model. The IX3 uses the earlier setup while the i3 sedan will accept the latter next year. However, the fresh design language, which is initiated by the NEE class, seems to weaken the size of the kidneys. The next year G65 X5 will probably take the new IX3, although the radiator grille will probably be a little larger to remain proportional to the larger footprint of the SUV.
There is a big-gripping model that BMW will allegedly not renew. The XM will apparently not receive a second generation, although its oversized kidneys probably do not blame. An indirect replacement could arrive in the form of a robust SUV, probably with a vertical layout of the grain grille of the NEE class era.
Source: Carexpert
