To call the new BMW 4-Series simply ‘controversial’ might be an understatement and thankfully we’re not alone on this one.
BMW apparently needed a strong visual differentiator for the new 4-Series, which is understandable, but their decision to slap a set of massive kidney grilles on its face in such a shocking way led to many strong reactions from fans and media.
Read Also: BMW Design Chief Defends New 4-Series’ Grille, Says It’ll Shape The Brand
Frank Stephenson is now also reacting to the new BMW 4-Series, going through the ins and outs of its styling and sharing his opinion on the looks of the new German coupe. As a reminder, Stephenson is responsible for the designs of many iconic models, including the McLaren P1, the Maserati MC12, the Fiat 500, as well as the original BMW X5.
While liking a design or not is always going to be a subjective matter, watching a professional designer deep-dive into the styling details of a vehicle is certainly interesting. Especially when the vehicle in question is the new BMW 4-Series.
As Stephenson notes, BMW is one of those brands that should be treated with gloves but at the same time, the carmaker has to keep things moving forward and evolve its design language. But still, some of the choices BMW made with the 4-Series are straight-up baffling.
That of course includes the huge nostrils upfront which, according to Stephenson, simply don’t match the rest of the car’s design language. The grille looks unrefined, and like it was designed from an entirely unrelated department compared to the rest of the vehicle.
In the end, that face is what makes the new 4-Series more of a disappointment than anything else.