Domagoj Dukec, the current head of design at BMW, is just one flat trunk away from earning a derogatory moniker from fans à la Chris Bangle. The new grille design of the BMW 4 Series, M3, M4, i4 and iX is currently drawing criticism from fans and enthusiasts, as well as Dukec himself. The E65 7 Series and its “Bangle Butt” trunk are the most divisive BMW designs since the introduction of the new, enormous kidney grille. It’s not our imagination; practically every media person has something to say about the new look, and we get comments about it every day.
However, Dukec and BMW aren’t giving up despite the nearly constant criticism. In fact, Dukec contends that criticism will always accompany innovation and that it is not the designer’s responsibility to alter course in response to criticism. The notion is that genuine innovation requires a lack of concern for criticism. Even further, he asserts that design is not primarily concerned with being “beautiful or ugly.”
Dukec recently stated in an interview with Esquire that “good design is not about pretty or ugly. These things are subjective. What is pretty? You will never design anything that 100% of people will like. It’s not possible, because people have such a wide range of tastes and needs. So it’s not about taste, but about gauging what a customer actually desires, or what they could desire in the future.”
I won’t concur or disagree because I’m ineligible to do so. Dukec will forget more about automobile design today than I’ll ever know, therefore I don’t really have the authority to declare whether or not he’s correct, and neither does anyone else at BMWBLOG. We do, however, know that Dukec and BMW are both in a predicament. They have chosen a brand-new, daring design language, and now they must live with it, good or bad. Additionally, when is it actually appropriate to abandon a design language or style? They couldn’t just give up after a year, can they?
Will we ever appreciate Dukec’s designs if Bangle’s, which received such harsh criticism in their day, are now appreciated? Perhaps, perhaps not. BMW and Dukec are continuing on regardless.
In This Article...
BMW M4
The BMW M4 is a high-performance variant of the coupes and convertibles in the BMW 4 Series line that BMW’s motorsport subsidiary, BMW M, designed and has been selling since 2014.
The BMW M3 coupe and convertible vehicles were superseded by the M4 as part of the renumbering that divided the 3 Series coupe and convertible variants into the 4 Series (to further separate these from the 3 Series). An improved engine, suspension, exhaust system, brakes, and attempts to reduce weight, such as increased usage of carbon fiber on the car’s roof, are among the enhancements above the base BMW 4 Series.
The Designer of the BMW M4, Florian Nissl, Describes the BMW M4
The “M4 Concept,” as BMW refers to it, was introduced back in August. We refer to it as the “F82 M4”. Without seeing the interior, it is essentially the new BMW M4, which is why the German business continues to refer to it as a concept.
It’s not surprising that BMW chose to have the car’s designer appear in front of the camera and explain what and why he did with the new high-performance coupe from Bavaria. The car looks absolutely magnificent, just like the M4 is supposed to.
Florian Nissl is the man; he is a young designer who has been employed by BMW since 2006 and primarily works on projects involving M automobiles. But since 2001, when he joined the team as an intern, he has been involved in the BMW works.
He completed a 4-year program at Fachhochschule Darmstadt in 2006, but before joining BMW, he continued his education by enrolling in the FH Joanneum Industrial Design program. We’ll let him speak for the car instead.
KITH’S BMW M4 DESIGN STUDY.
Introducing the BMW M4 Design Study by Kith and the BMW E30 M3 Ronnie Fieg Edition. With the unveiling of two rare showcars—two one-of-one copies of the brand-new BMW M4 Competition and the BMW E30 M3 from 1989—BMW M and New York-based lifestyle brand Kith launch a remarkable partnership. Cinnabar Red, which was the color of the BMW E30 M3 when it was first debuted in the 1980s, is the distinctive paint color used on the one-of-a-kind pieces. This paint job is no longer offered for the standard BMW lineup, but it was specifically chosen for the BMW M4 Competition Coupe in order to highlight the similarities between the two vehicles. The show cars’ remarkable design is expressed through a variety of exclusive elements on the exterior and inside.
KITH and the BMW M4 Competition.
An exclusive special edition model of the brand-new BMW M4 Competition Coupe is presented by BMW M and the New York-based lifestyle company Kith. A stringent 150-unit limit applies to the BMW M4 Competition x KITH, which is available in the matte paint colours Frozen Black, Frozen Dark Silver, and Frozen Brilliant White. Reservations can be made starting on October 23, 2020. Ronnie Fieg, the founder and designer of Kith, and BMW M worked closely together to create this limited edition vehicle, which marries the high-performance attributes of the BMW M4 Competition Coupe with the sophisticated world of modern fashion. A thrillingly unique special edition model combines design and strength, street cred with power, passion and excellent performance.
Since some of the model’s components are individually created, the final design may differ somewhat from the images.
Who was the F82 BMW M4’s designer?
We had the chance to speak with Florian Nissle, the BMW M designer in charge of the new BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe, at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.
The M3 sedan is one of the best four-door sports cars now produced by BMW, while the first M4 distinguishes out for its sleek and dynamic style.
The two M types are comparable in terms of design. They both have the same front ends, but the rear ends differ. The BMW M4 Coupe is especially lightweight and has a carbon fiber reinforced plastic body with an integrated rear spoiler. The BMW M4’s tailgate not only serves a practical aerodynamic purpose but also greatly contributes to its standalone design.
For the first time in the M3’s history, both vehicles have a CFRP roof. The four-door BMW M3 will now, for the first time, have this eye-catching look and useful feature.
The architect of the BMW M3?
Afterwards the E30 M3’s debut in 1986, the BMW M3 has been a high-performance variant of the BMW 3 Series developed by BMW’s in-house motorsport division, BMW M GmbH. M3 variants have been made for every generation of the 3 Series since.
A convertible body style was quickly added after the coupe body style was initially offered for the car. The E36 (1994–1999) and E90 (2008–2012) models both had M3 sedans. Due to the coupe and convertible variants’ rebranding as the 4 Series range and the high-performance model becoming the M4, the M3 has only been manufactured in the sedan body style since 2014.
Engines, handling, brakes, aerodynamics, lightweight materials, and many interior improvements are all improved over the standard 3 Series versions. The M3’s limited-slip differential, which statistically maximizes torque and grip without sacrificing handling, is BMW’s most significant contribution to driver safety and the performance sector. The E36 M3’s installation of the SMG-I gearbox in 1992 marked the M3’s most important technological advancement. The SMG-II gearbox was installed in the E46 M3 to give it the distinction of being the world’s quickest shifting gearbox. For the E46 M3 CSL, a carbon fiber air box was designed. It functioned by generating an air vortex that could continuously maintain the maximum air induction pressure to maximize throttle response.
Who was the new BMW’s 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.
What does BMW mean by the M in M4?
M GmbH, which stands for Motorsport and is the name of BMW’s performance division, has been in existence since the 1970s. When it was first established, the department concentrated all of its engineering expertise on building race cars. However, as the brand soon yearned to expand operations into the high-performance market, BMW permitted the creation of M-branded cars for the general public. The M1 was the first M automobile made accessible to the general public; it was a mid-engine race car with a very thin veneer of comforts.
The M recipe evolved throughout time; instead of creating pure street racers, they opted to push the edge and create vehicles that are not only as quick and maneuverable as certain racecars, but also provide comfort and high-tech amenities often found in luxury automobiles.
Today, M produces high-performance versions of almost all of the vehicles offered by BMW. Let’s explore everything the M Series has to offer.
Is the BMW M4 quick?
The highest speed of the BMW M4 Coupe is 155 mph. The M4 Coupe accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, followed by the M4 Competition Coupe at 3.8 seconds and the M4 Competition xDrive Coupe at an astounding 3.4 seconds.
Who created the 2023 BMW 7 Series?
The brand’s apex product is the BMW 7 Series. It combines power, technology, and luxury all in one package, and the 2023 model of the new 7 Series keeps up this heritage. Inside and out, the sedan receives a complete redesign, and Domagoj Dukec, the company’s design director, breaks it all down in a new video from BMWBlog.
The new face of the 2023 7 Series and i7, which follows the appearance unveiled on the revised X7 earlier this month, is covered in the opening segment of the film. Split headlights are added to the sedan, giving BMW more creative latitude to create a distinctive lighting character. Additionally, it gets the brand’s lighted grille. This style will also be worn by the XM. A more pronounced Hofmeister kink and flush door handles provide life to the otherwise plain side profile.