Photo: Image edited by autoevolution/theophilus chin
BMW has a couple of core values and symbols that are vital for brand recognition and the company as a whole. From the bunch you could list the inline 6-cylinder engines, the Hofmeister kink and we’d be tempted to say rear-wheel-drive as well. However, since BMW decided to launch a FWD car in the shape of the 2 Series Active Tourer, we won’t go there any more.
Another distinctive design trademark of the brand has been for the better part of the last 8 decades the kidney grille. Introduced for the first time in 1933 on the BMW 303, the kidney grille became an intrinsic part of the brand’s upcoming characteristic styling. The 303 was also the first car that used the traditional inline 6-cylinder architecture.
Nearly all cars that followed used this design, partly because of its functionality (it helped feed air into the radiator and therefore cool down the engine) and because of its look. Of course, over the years, they evolved along with the brand and, on the i3 and i8, for example, it only serves a decorative part as the two don’t have the conventional internal combustion engines up front to need cooling.
Master automotive manipulator, Theophilus Chin, wanted to see how some of BMW’s cars would look like without it. Therefore, he created some really nice renderings of 16 BMW models without the kidney grille.
Looking over them, it’s hard to say what kind of feeling tries us but we can’t help but notice that they immediately started to resemble Korean cars, Kias to be more precise. What do you think?
Nearly all cars that followed used this design, partly because of its functionality (it helped feed air into the radiator and therefore cool down the engine) and because of its look. Of course, over the years, they evolved along with the brand and, on the i3 and i8, for example, it only serves a decorative part as the two don’t have the conventional internal combustion engines up front to need cooling.
Master automotive manipulator, Theophilus Chin, wanted to see how some of BMW’s cars would look like without it. Therefore, he created some really nice renderings of 16 BMW models without the kidney grille.
Looking over them, it’s hard to say what kind of feeling tries us but we can’t help but notice that they immediately started to resemble Korean cars, Kias to be more precise. What do you think?
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