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...
This is how architect Chip Foose would redesign the face of the 2021 BMW M3
Because of the enormous kidney grilles on the new 2021 BMW M3/M4, the front appearance has offended many people. Not long after Prior Design showed off a number of the updated grilles it is developing, renowned auto designer Chip Foose has also made an effort to enhance the M3’s appearance.
Although Foose is best known for his work on vintage muscle cars, he has a great eye for detail and claims that with the new M3, the German automaker has lost the finesse it was known for and abandoned its heritage. He continues by saying that the front and rear fascias have abandoned the legacy of the renowned performance vehicle, and that the new car can only be identified as a BMW M3 from the side.
Foose asserts that sci-fi has influenced automotive design in the present day, and that BMW’s designers may have drawn a little too much inspiration from works like Star Wars while creating the new M3’s front end.
Foose broke the enormous kidney grilles into two by inserting a piece of the fascia to improve the appearance of the M3’s front end. Additionally, he has fitted two horizontal turn signals that were modeled after those seen on the E30-gen M3 and shrunk the size of the lower front air intakes.
BMW is steadfast in its conviction that this is the way forward, despite all the criticism directed at its continuously expanding grilles. Time will tell if they are correct and whether or not buyers will like the contentious new design.
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.
BMW Definitely Screwed Up: The Controversial 2022 BMW M3 Gets a Chip Foose Redesign
You must be familiar with the debate around the current BMW sports vehicle generation at this point. Simply put, people believe that BMW badly mishandled the kidney grille. Now, renowned auto designer Chip Foose tries his hand at resolving the always contentious kidney grille on the 2022 BMW M3. The ultimate result clearly indicates that BMW botched the style of the storied sports car.
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However, there is a huge obstacle that needs to be addressed that is comparable to those lengthy, vertically positioned kidney grilles. To put it kindly, the current front-end design for these cars has received mixed reviews from fans.
Grilles on M3 and M4 aren’t about… Head of design at BMW: “Pretty or ugly?” Back to video
The new M3 and M4 front end, according to Domagoj Dukec, who has been in charge of BMW design since July 2019, embodies both the zeitgeist, or the mood and attitudes of the modern world, as well as the bold design characteristics inherent to a M automobile.
Was this the best way for BMW to create the new M3/M4?
BMW certainly generated a lot of discussion when it unveiled official photos of the M3 and M4. We invited Hagerty’s creative illustrator Abimelec Arellano to envisage what the M3 would look like if it adhered more closely to historic BMW design in light of the (inevitable) controversy surrounding the redesign and that grille. He came up with the following.
The obvious difference is that Arellano gave the kidney grille on the 2021 M3 more conventional proportions; the redesigned kidney grille is reminiscent of the model’s tidy nostrils from the E92 generation.
How do you feel about the updated M3 and M4 designs by Arellano? In the Hagerty Community, express your ideas.
What exactly does BMW M3 mean?
The word “Motorsport” refers to the BMW M Series, which was initially developed to support BMW’s racing program. Over time, the BMW M program started to add customized vehicle models to its roster, which are now accessible to the general public.
Why did BMW discontinue the M3?
Due to the F80 generation BMW M3’s inability to meet Europe’s stricter emissions regulations, BMW will cease production of the model in August.
The rehomologation procedure that would follow such a change would preclude the upgraded M3 from being on sale before to the October debut of the next-generation 3 Series. As a result, BMW decided against continuing to produce the vehicle longer than it did with its predecessors and to stop manufacturing of it concurrently with the rest of the 3 Series lineup.
Who created the most recent BMW?
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.
Why is the BMW M3 a hit?
Acceleration/Speed The M3 Competition’s 0-60 mph time is only 3.8 seconds, while the M3 Competition xDrive’s time is 3.4 seconds. The BMW M3 can outrun many other cars in its sector and many of its rivals’ cars with a 0-60 mph time of under 4 seconds. Additionally, the vehicle has up to 503 horsepower.
What kind of engine is in the BMW M3 2022?
The thunderous, freely revving 3.0-liter inline six twin-turbo S58-series engine powers both M3 models. The rear wheels receive the 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque produced by the six-speed manual transmission in the normal M3. The normal M3 is capable of zero-to-60 sprints in 4.1 seconds assuming you can shift well and aren’t trying to lay down patches of rubber.
Upgrade to the M3 Competition if you desire an automatic, in this case an eight-speed unit. A modified S58 there produces 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This reduces the time from zero to sixty degrees by three tenths of a second, and launch control can guarantee flawless runs in either version. AWD is an option on the Competition, which increases grip and lap times without substantially altering personality. Additionally, owners of AWD vehicles can select a drive mode that sends all of the power to the rear wheels.
In reality, drivers may track and improve their performance using a variety of drive settings as well as some extra choices like a drive recorder and M Drive Professional ($900). Learning every digital feature takes time, but with regular ownership, the features you use the most, like the foot-and-hand shuffle required for launch control, would become familiar.
All of the variations are enjoyable to drive, but the manual base model stands out for providing a unique feel that cannot be found in automatic supersedans, despite being slightly slower on a racetrack. Handling is straightforward, communicative, and requires a herculean grip. The M3 can go at high speeds through winding canyon roads while maintaining a sense of balance. The automatic transmission is impeccably responsive, the steering seems far more sensitive than in some M-sport-badged BMWs, and the engine loves to sing.
Where do BMW’s automobiles get their design?
Three BMW design studios exist worldwide: one each in Munich, Shanghai, and Newbury Park (California). The teams collaborate closely across international boundaries.
Which BMW models are produced there?
BMW 4 Series vehicles are also made at the BMW Group Munich Plant. However, Munich is the only place where the BMW 3 Series Touring, BMW 4 Series Coupe, and M4 Coupe are produced.