BMW Concept 4 - Triumph or Tragedy?

Hubert · Sep 11, 2019

https://www.motor1.com/news/369819/bmw-concept-4-unveiled-frankfurt/

dtf · Sep 12, 2019

Blehh

Hubert · Sep 12, 2019

Here's a fan's rendering of how this could look like with the 8 series grilles.
https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/09/11/bmw-concept-4-rendered-with-8-series-kidney-grilles/

[Image: Bartosz Kazmierczak]

Pitfitter446 · Sep 12, 2019

It’s not bad but, the front needs more work, is the rear as bad too.

abrod520 · Sep 12, 2019

Doesn't matter how it looks, it'll be completely devoid of feedback and totally numb to drive. And then it will become a maintenance nightmare about a year out of warranty.

Not only is this a tragedy, but BMW in general is a tragedy post-2010 or so.

imagwai · Sep 12, 2019

They've copied Mercedes with the blingy silver beans in the grille. Think it looks awful. The rest of the car is not so bad, but the front is too beefy. The wing mirrors look expensive and doubt they'll make it onto a production car.

I would also have to agree that BMW are not quite the same since they moved to electric steering and started phasing out the 6 cylinder petrol engines and replacing them with 3 and 4 cylinder turbo units (although completely see why they had to).

abrod520 · Sep 13, 2019

imagwai
I would also have to agree that BMW are not quite the same since they moved to electric steering and started phasing out the 6 cylinder petrol engines and replacing them with 3 and 4 cylinder turbo units (although completely see why they had to).

They also softened the suspensions and started focusing on technology rather than driving experience - the exact strengths of an early-2000s Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz decided to start focusing on driving experience and now look at them - fantastic cars. Still wouldn't be left holding the bag once it's out of warranty though

imagwai · Sep 13, 2019

abrod520
They also softened the suspensions and started focusing on technology rather than driving experience - the exact strengths of an early-2000s Mercedes-Benz. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz decided to start focusing on driving experience and now look at them - fantastic cars. Still wouldn't be left holding the bag once it's out of warranty though

Owned BMW and Merc over the years, but currently giving Jaguar a try. Maybe not quite up to the build quality of the Germans but much easier to love! 😀

Gambba · Sep 17, 2019

BMW’s styling in recent years has taken a real nose dive all except for the M2 and the 8-series. Most of the others just don’t seem to be a patch on that of Mercedes these days, which have been producing some fantastic looking machines in recent years.

BMW’s nostril enlargement program is frankly taking the p1ss and it’s oversized on everything making the Z4 look clunky and the 7-series boat like.

imagwai · Sep 18, 2019

Gambba
BMW’s styling in recent years has taken a real nose dive all except for the M2 and the 8-series. Most of the others just don’t seem to be a patch on that of Mercedes these days, which have been producing some fantastic looking machines in recent years.

BMW’s nostril enlargement program is frankly taking the p1ss and it’s oversized on everything making the Z4 look clunky and the 7-series boat like.

Whilst I disagree that Mercs are better looking these days, I can say I wholeheartedly agree on the BMW styling and grille points! Below is a pic of a 3 series I used to own, and I don't think BMW have produced a better-looking version since.

Albert-AMG · Sep 18, 2019

This was a nice front:

But recent BMW fronts like this Concept 4, X7, 7 Series...

remind me a pig nose or this:

I obviously prefer the current Mercedes fronts! 😉

Yago · Sep 18, 2019

Not a fan of the new BMW line-up but I don’t think Mercedes is a good example of a better effort. That GLE has a lot going on as well. Look at that bumper. What is all that? And why do they have to look so evil? It’s absurd. That AMG looks like it’s about to run you over.

imagwai · Sep 18, 2019

All this talk of BMW and Merc. Come to the dark side...

jaguar-xf-black-pack-replacement-upper-grille-pre-2012-models-[3]-3555-p.jpg

Albert-AMG · Sep 18, 2019

Yago
And why do they have to look so evil? It’s absurd. That AMG looks like it’s about to run you over.

This look is called “shark nose”, in my opinion much better than the “pig nose” of the current BMW! 😉

And it seems that most of the customers agree with me, because Mercedes-Benz is leading the world market of the premium brands since some years ago, in front of BMW (2nd) and Audi (3rd)

In my previous post there were pictures of the most powerful AMG versions (up to 639HP), so they look agressive, but of course there are other models/versions not so agressive/powerful

View attachment 839805

Although I would love to see a re-issue of this 300 SLR “Uhlenhaut Coupé” from 1955! 😉

Calibre11 · Oct 13, 2019

I really like (most of) the 4..pleased to see it step further away from the 3 series in looks. But two comments:
1. It doesn't really look very "BMW"- bit like the Z4, which could be from any brand if you took the grille off the car
2. And speaking of that grille..maybe it will look better with vertical "blades", but I hope they are going to scale it back by 20% for production and this grille is just to get us used to the car having an oversized front end...

Mr_Orange · Oct 13, 2019

Why is that some Mercedes saloons look the same front and back and at first glance you can't tell which way the car should be driving?

dtf · Oct 16, 2019

Those picture from @Albert-AMG are great, aggressive and modern without being over the top or ugly. I've never really considered a Mercedes, but I far prefer the styling of that lot to the current BMWs. The G63 in particular is quite special 😀

Gambba · Oct 17, 2019

imagwai
Whilst I disagree that Mercs are better looking these days, I can say I wholeheartedly agree on the BMW styling and grille points! Below is a pic of a 3 series I used to own, and I don't think BMW have produced a better-looking version since.

😜

I just think Mercedes have stepped up their game. Styling in general just seems so much more sorted in my eyes, but the big points come from models that actually handle like the C63. Previously it was a luxury muscle car only, but the latest model then brought handling to BMW levels....and still keep some awesome exhaust notes!

I'm a big fan of the M2 in every way, but it’s one of the few current models that I care for, and that’s from a previous fan of most BMW’s.

I was driving around in a 2014 M5 for a few weeks recently and live the styling and with 600hp on tap it’s rapid beyond what a car that big should be. The car just shrinks around you.

I had an E36 years ago that I loved and currently an M Coupe which I think has style by the bucket load.

Gambba · Oct 17, 2019

dtf
The G63 in particular is quite special 😀

I was looking at buying a few years old G63 because they just are cool somehow, even though basically an agricultural tractor.

Hubert · Jan 30, 2020

https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/01/29/spied-2021-bmw-m4-coupe-g82-spotted-in-germany/