Photo: j.b.cars/instagram
With the official release of the 2021 BMW 4 Series having taken place yesterday, the Internet can't stop talking about the shark face of the new 4er. In fact, this has been a hot topic ever since September last year, when the Concept 4 confirmed the rumors about the bold front fascia of the Bavarian coupe, with all the leaks and spyshots that surfaced meanwhile obviously adding even more spice. But what if BMW had chosen the evolutionary path instead? Well, the rendering we have here provides all the answer we need.
It's no secret that the Bavarian automaker's kidney grille have been growing for quite a while now. But the size-of-Germany grille adorning the front end of the newcomer is something else. As such, this pixel portrait showcases the 2021 4 Series Coupe with a nose just slightly larger than that of its predecessor (here's a brief styling comparo of the two).
In fact, the image, which comes from digital label j.b.cars, goes a step further, attempting to showcase the upcoming G82 M4 (keep in mind that, for now, the range is topped by the 374 hp M440i xDrive). As such, we're not just dealing with the revised front end, aggressive M Division bumper included, but also with specific wheels and door mirrors.
Now, to mention a mix of the two, this strategy would further distance BMW models from those introduced by Audi and Mercedes-Benz, with the last two's ever-more-focused family identity having already generated a look that makes it quite difficult to distinguish between the three classic sedan sizes, for instance.
When talking about the massive grilles of recent models, the German automaker references iconic cars like the 328 of the late 1930s, which earned its fame on the racetrack. However, we can look back even further, to the BMW 303. Introduced in 1933, this saw the classic radiator grille split in two for aerodynamic purposes, thus creating a styling feature that would become a BMW legend.
Of course, this gets in the way of the new 4 Series' look and all you have to do in order to see the "free look" is to check out the said Concept 4 or the design sketches of the production model. In fact, you'll find the latter in the Instagram post below, with these styling cues coming from Seungmo Lim.
Born in South Korea, the penning master is a senior exterior designer for BMW. And his resume also includes the roles of lead exterior designer for the said Concept 4, as well as for nonconformist studies like the 2017 BMW i Vision Dynamics, the BMW Vision Next 100 we met in 2016 and the 2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive (he was the exterior detail designer for this one, though).
However, the artist also had roles that revolve around Bavarian models with a more traditional styling. Thus, he was the lead exterior designer for the F90 M5 and the 1 Series M Sport Pack that came out in 2015, as well as the exterior detail designer for the 2014 M235i Racing customer motorsport tool.
In the end, sticking to the dynamic assets that have made the company so popular, while meeting the ever-increasing luxury and sustainability demands of the contemporary automotive realm remains the greatest challenge for BMW.
In fact, the image, which comes from digital label j.b.cars, goes a step further, attempting to showcase the upcoming G82 M4 (keep in mind that, for now, the range is topped by the 374 hp M440i xDrive). As such, we're not just dealing with the revised front end, aggressive M Division bumper included, but also with specific wheels and door mirrors.
The business case
With the look featured in this pixel exercise, the 4 Series is completely fit for the "baby 8 Series" label, but this wasn't the automaker's aim. In fact, BMW has two main aims for its new-age kidney grille design: to allow its models to stand out compared to the ever-sharper competition and, returning to the point made above, to set these further apart.Now, to mention a mix of the two, this strategy would further distance BMW models from those introduced by Audi and Mercedes-Benz, with the last two's ever-more-focused family identity having already generated a look that makes it quite difficult to distinguish between the three classic sedan sizes, for instance.
When talking about the massive grilles of recent models, the German automaker references iconic cars like the 328 of the late 1930s, which earned its fame on the racetrack. However, we can look back even further, to the BMW 303. Introduced in 1933, this saw the classic radiator grille split in two for aerodynamic purposes, thus creating a styling feature that would become a BMW legend.
The number plate
While certain states in the US allow drivers to skip the front number plate, the remaining ones, along with most parts of the world, Europe included, demand that a massice piece is placed here.Of course, this gets in the way of the new 4 Series' look and all you have to do in order to see the "free look" is to check out the said Concept 4 or the design sketches of the production model. In fact, you'll find the latter in the Instagram post below, with these styling cues coming from Seungmo Lim.
Born in South Korea, the penning master is a senior exterior designer for BMW. And his resume also includes the roles of lead exterior designer for the said Concept 4, as well as for nonconformist studies like the 2017 BMW i Vision Dynamics, the BMW Vision Next 100 we met in 2016 and the 2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive (he was the exterior detail designer for this one, though).
However, the artist also had roles that revolve around Bavarian models with a more traditional styling. Thus, he was the lead exterior designer for the F90 M5 and the 1 Series M Sport Pack that came out in 2015, as well as the exterior detail designer for the 2014 M235i Racing customer motorsport tool.
To these eyes
Entering subjective land, the said business case sounds like a solid approach, at least in theory. Nevertheless, the implementation can make a world of a difference. So while the uber-large kidney grille fits the sporty profile of the 2021 4 Series Coupe, I can't say the same about the also-hefty noses of the 7 Series LCI (facelift) luxury sedan and the X7 three-row SUV, which kickstarted this face-dominating grille trend.In the end, sticking to the dynamic assets that have made the company so popular, while meeting the ever-increasing luxury and sustainability demands of the contemporary automotive realm remains the greatest challenge for BMW.
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