Domagoj Dukec, a designer for BMW, said in March that “excellent design is not about pretty or ugly.” This was a reaction to the new BMW 4 Series’ styling. To cast doubt on that assertion, all you need to do is glance at the 4 Series. Forget about the rest of the vehicle for a moment; the 4 Series’ front grille is offensive and should not be on any vehicle, regardless of the manufacturer. There is no escaping the fact that it is abhorrent. Take a look at the grille of the BMW Z8, for instance. The Z8 sports a smaller grille than a contemporary 4 Series, despite the fact that cars have developed to require less cooling.
The remainder of the 4 Series also lacked much organization. The renowned auto designer Frank Stephenson, who once worked for BMW, didn’t comprehend the design of the vehicle. The body and grille appeared to have been developed by two separate people, departing from the brands’ character, and the increased belt line angle and elimination of the Hofmesiter kink were also unacceptable. Since the 4 Series was unveiled, BMW vehicles have continued to use this peculiar design language.
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Domagoj Dukec discusses the contentious Bimmer once more.
We firmly feel that no other individual in the field of automotive design is as contentious as the creator of the new BMW 4 Series. Domagoj Dukec, the chief of design at BMW, spoke to Esquire magazine about his career as a designer despite the turbulent times he is currently experiencing.
In the paid advertisement interview, Dukec defended the 4 Series like a dad praising his own child. He claimed that it’s a “elegant car with really nice proportions” and that it isn’t as radical as the media or the rest of the world perceive it to be.
Why BMW’s designs will continue to be divisive on purpose
BMW’s design has stood the test of time, as anyone who has used social media in the past year would be aware. It may be brutal, according to Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice-president of group design at the Bavarian company.
But if you believe there’s a clue that van Hooydonk and Domagoj Dukec, head of BMW design, are poised to reverse course, think again. The kidney grille will endure.
The justification is straightforward: van Hooydonk and Dukec want BMW to be distinctive, therefore they’re glad to make it that. They defend it by saying that since it was a part of BMW’s past, it will continue to be a part of the present.
Who is BMW’s new designer?
We’ve learnt in recent years to approach the introduction of a new BMW with cautious optimism. The most loud commenters are always those that criticize the huge grille, if we pay attention to what people are saying online. The 2023 X7 facelift and the 2023 7 Series / i7 have it, with the production-ready XM not far behind. Now that the split headlights are a thing, having been previewed by the Concept XM last year, there is a fresh hot debate about them.
Why are these cars designed in the manner they are? Why does the M3 have XXL kidneys yet the 3 Series doesn’t? Domagoj Dukec, head of design at BMW, outlined the rationale for the company’s unconventional strategy in an interview with Car Magazine. According to him, two-thirds of consumers desire “an exquisite and harmonious aesthetic,” which explains why volume sellers like the 3er and 5er take design safety measures. The facelifted 3 Series and the upcoming 5 Series won’t feature any significant cosmetic modifications, according to spy photos, for the same reason.
Where are BMWs created?
BMW is produced in five separate nations. BMW has production plants in Germany, Mexico, China, South Africa, and the United States.
Does BMW still produce the 6 Series?
The third generation BMW F06/F12/F13 6 Series was marketed from 2011 to 2018. A 4-door sedan (F06 model code), a 2-door convertible (F12 model code), and a 2-door coupe are the available body types.
It made its debut at the 2011 New York and Shanghai auto shows. At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, a new four-door coupe variant of the BMW 6 Series was unveiled. It is based on the CS Concept from 2007. Initial models came with three different engines: a 3.0-liter inline six, a 4.4-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter inline six diesel. Later on, all-wheel drive vehicles were added to the lineup.
The 6 Series had a facelift in 2015 that included minor performance and fuel economy enhancements as well as design tweaks. The 6 Series coupe variant’s discontinuation as a production vehicle was confirmed in February 2017. The Gran Coupe and Convertible both terminated in October 2018, respectively. The F06 Gran Coupe is still in production for the 2019 model year even though production halted in the fall of 2018.
The S63 twin-turbo V8 engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission power the F06/F12/F13 M6. It uses a turbocharged engine for the first time in an M6.
Why did BMW modify its grill?
Before we discuss the ridiculous new nose, let’s first discuss why the brand would have bothered to alter the recognizable BMW kidney grille in the first place. Beamer claims that the M3 and M4 models’ motors are to blame. The new inline 6 motors included in both models, according to them and Autocar, merely required more air. In accordance with marketing conventions, they must also produce more power.
Of course, adding more air and fuel will accomplish that goal more quickly. Despite the new 2 Series’ attractive exterior, BMW need a larger nose to allow for airflow. Of course, its design leader also claims that it is because the 328-inspired shape of the new BMW kidney grille is a nod to earlier models. Regardless, the new look hasn’t been well welcomed, and I’m a loud critic of the nose on the BMW M4.
Will the BMW 6 Series return?
The next generation of BMW premium vehicles is one of the unconfirmed subjects. The existing BMW 4 Series and 8 Series vehicles will combine to form the BMW 6 Series, which may be an older family depending on how you look at it. According to rumors, the venerable brand will make a comeback in 2026 with a new line of cars built on the Neue Klasse platform. The Gran Coupe model, the last remaining 8 Series model, is rumored to join the 7 Series roster in the future.
The latter component is consistent with what we have already heard. The Gran Coupe is the only model to continue in the same format in a new generation because it leads the 8 Series sales report. At the same time, insiders claim that the 8 Series family’s future is still up in the air. Additionally, there will probably be a pause between the conclusion of the current 8 Series production and the start of the following one. Given that a new BMW platform will be available in 2025, electrification would open up a whole new range of possibilities for the 8 Series. BMW will have more freedom to experiment with new body shapes if it switches to entirely electric models because EV powertrains make creating new cars more simpler.
What are people saying about BMWs?
If you look at the Reddit forums, you can see that people frequently ask, “What makes a BMW so great?” The majority of comments make clear that prestige comes first and performance comes second. People insist that their cars provide a good first impression and reflect their personalities.
BMW represents sophistication and riches with its recognizable badge. They’re good-looking cars, and people enjoy good-looking cars, one Reddit poster stated, while another noted that owning a BMW is all about denoting success and class.
When did BMW update their grill?
After that, in 2015, when the i8 sports vehicle appeared, it had a comparable, conventional split-kidney grille design that everyone knew it would have. 4 Going Electric: 2013 BMW i3
Is the 8 Series being phased out by BMW?
Frank Weber, the chief technical officer at BMW, was extensively interviewed by Australia’s Which Car magazine. Nearly every topic of interest to BMW devotees, both new and old, was covered in the article, including the automaker’s design philosophy, halo cars, and how to keep cars modern when technology advances so quickly relative to vehicle generation cycles. Nevertheless, out of the article’s more than 1,700 words, 47 lines from one paragraph that have nothing to do with Weber have been turned into the story: It is rumored that BMW product planners would combine the 4 and 8 Series into a new 6 Series range by the year 2026. According to the speculation, the 8 Series Gran Coupe will be the final vehicle from both lineups to survive. But because it will be incorporated into the 7 Series lineup, it won’t be an 8 Series anymore.
The original 6 Series came in 1976, a shark-nosed icon of exquisite badassery until 1989. If this were to come true, it would be, as Shirley Bassey used to sing, “simply small bits of history repeating.” The first stunning but underwhelming 8 Series debuted in 1990 and persisted until persistent underwhelming sales led BMW to discontinue it in 1999. The 6 Series made a comeback in 2004, not quite as crisp as the first, but still able to captivate a very particular and committed audience. The Munich carmaker would then resurrect the 8 Series in 2018, which was similarly not as sharp as previously but even slower selling, and put the 6 back to its crypt in 2018 save for the lone survivor 6 Series GT, which was essentially simply a renamed 5 Series GT. So, if the rumor about a third act for the 6 Series is true, it will only be the most recent installment in a long-running story.
According to BMW Blog, it obtained this information from its own sources. On the other hand, the demise of the 4 Series could be justified as a result of coupe and convertible sales continuing their downward trends. On the one hand, as the BMW Blog notes, there will be significant technological and electrical advancements over the next four years that may change consumer preferences. However, 2026 is only four years away, which means BMW is definitely quite close to making a choice about the 4er.
A highly-emotional model, such as the unicorn hybrid or electric halo car that whisperers won’t stop talking about as an i8 revival or a production version of the Vision M Next, could easily be created on the upcoming New Class (NKL) platform that will eventually support every BMW, according to Weber.
But don’t be hesitant to visit Which Car and read the entire interview; there’s a ton more there.
What future plans does BMW have?
Future mobility that is climate neutral must have electric drivetrains. This is the reason the BMW Group is extending its lineup of electrified automobiles. The Group will have at least one fully electric model available in almost all important sectors by 2023. With the Neue Klasse, the BMW Group intends to produce 50% more all-electric vehicles starting in 2025 while also substantially reducing its carbon impact over the whole life cycle. It will make use of its expertise as an e-mobility pioneer in doing so.
A dozen fully functional all-electric vehicles will be available from the BMW Group as early as 2023, due to sophisticated vehicle architectures and a very adaptable production network. So, from the compact segment to the ultra-luxury class, the BMW Group will offer at least one fully electric car in almost all key series. In 2021, the all-electric range for consumers was finished with the BMW i3, MINI Cooper SE, BMW iX3, BMW i4, and BMW iX. Additionally, the manufacturer has revealed all-electric variations of the BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, and BMW X1. Both Rolls-Royce and MINI are steadfastly pursuing electromobility. For instance, the brand’s best-selling model in 2021 was the all-electric MINI.