[Mach550]

I'm really late to seeing the large grills on the road. Excluding X7's where it is somewhat acceptable due to the size of the vehicle. Looks absolutely terrible even on a 740 I saw.

[jstewart]

Originally Posted by thebmw

It's not change that is hard to take. It's ugly, disproportional, gaudy, and obnoxious change that's hard to take.

Well said and ditto from this BMW owner.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by Denny Swift

My god, that thing is ugly! I had to go see it in person. I actually think it's way worse in person. It just looks ungainly from every angel. It's extremely rare for a new version of a car to be released that doesn't immediately make the prior version look dated. But my 435 M-sport is just elegant, modern, and gorgeous and looks even more so now. It's not just the new grill that is an abomination; it's the whole car. The profile looks like a castrated Mustang. The lack of the Hofmeister Kink makes the rear quarter look like a Honda. The soft curves on the upper doors and fenders make it look really wimpy too. And the crease at the bottom of the door is completely misplaced. I like the headlights and the tail lights, but that's about it. I expect there to be huge discounts on the new 4. The design is just a complete disaster...What a shame...I think the value of my 435 just went up, not that I'm selling it...

Agreed. Not only is the old version not dated compared to the new, it looks a whole lot better. Judge yourself, here's the F80 vs. G80 (white on road view similar angle):

[D22M2]

I can see boogers in there

[thebmw]

Old 4 - looks like a scalpel.
New 4 - looks like a porker with the nostrils to match

[packet]

The older gen looks so much more sleek.

This has me wondering - wouldn't the new model perform rather poorly in a wind tunnel as compared to the old one - just based on the front shape?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by packet

The older gen looks so much more sleek.

This has me wondering - wouldn't the new model perform rather poorly in a wind tunnel as compared to the old one - just based on the front shape?

A lot of the grill is closed off. Only about 1/3 of the grill (at least for the new 4er) is functional most of the time, the top part can open though.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

A lot of the grill is closed off. Only about 1/3 of the grill (at least for the new 4er) is functional most of the time, the top part can open though.

OMG, that closeup looks even worse than I thought! Seriously, there isn't a flattering angle on this car. That's really tough to accomplish as a designer!

[SteveinArizona]

+1: aggressive. #2: fat and rotund.

[packet]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

A lot of the grill is closed off. Only about 1/3 of the grill (at least for the new 4er) is functional most of the time, the top part can open though.

yeah but still AIR ==> / compared to AIR ==> |

[rak299]

It's copying the MBZ grills from 60 years ago.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by rak299

It's copying the MBZ grills from 60 years ago.

At least that grill fit the design them and was FUNCTIONAL. Most of the 4's grill isn't even needed or functional, not to mention that it doesn't fit the design theme...if there even is a theme.

The car is a hot mess. It's an amalgamation of at least half a dozen different themes all smashed together. It's like they had one designer for the grill, another for the headlights, another for the bumper, another for the hood, another for the side, another for the back, and then they stuck the same exact generic BMW interior theme they have for all their newer cars.

I have never had more enjoyment ripping a car's idiotic design since the Aztec.

[GenXer]

This obviously is like we're talking about the elephant in the room.....err...ah..umm..(uncomfortable sighing)....

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by thebmw

At least that grill fit the design them and was FUNCTIONAL. Most of the 4's grill isn't even needed or functional, not to mention that it doesn't fit the design theme...if there even is a theme.

The car is a hot mess. It's an amalgamation of at least half a dozen different themes all smashed together. It's like they had one designer for the grill, another for the headlights, another for the bumper, another for the hood, another for the side, another for the back, and then they stuck the same exact generic BMW interior theme they have for all their newer cars.

I have never had more enjoyment ripping a car's idiotic design since the Aztec.

A saving grace. The Aztec is worse.

[rwheels]

It is all retro. Hails from the beginning of racing.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

A saving grace. The Aztec is worse.

Love it or hate it, at least the Aztek had a consistent design theme. Lots of sharp edges and lines with various body cladding to match was the theme. The new 4 has round mixed with oblong mixed with sharp mixed with obtuse mixed with lines and edges that are geometrical mixed with squarish shapes....all while ignoring classic BMW themes.

Even if the new 4 is "prettier" than the Aztek, it suffers from a far more schizophrenic design language than the Aztek.

[Fifthtoe]

Hopefully there will be some aftermarket companies offering a much better design.