BMW Thinks You Actually Want A Big Ugly Grille - Care To Tell Them What You REALLY Think?

It doesn’t matter what you think. BMW does not care. All the auto manufacturers now cater to the tastes of the Chinese market. 1.5 Billion people are there with a rapidly growing middle class and all that purchasing power looking for new cars. BMW wants those buyers and gaudy big grills are a big hit over there. The era of the US being the target market is over. Get used to it.

True however the 7 series grille has been a flop so far....careful Bimmer, chasing trends looks a little desperate on you

No need to degrade US. German knows better than betting on one side only

BMW recognizes they need a change. If Lexus and Audi can sell with the huge grille, why not give it a try on a low-volume line? Just might works

@Car4life1 agreed they should not be chasing trends, especially ones like this!

BMW wants a change and where's the easiest place to attack?
Front elevation

Customers want a functional transmission that does not short out and shift into 'neutral' As long as the car is reliable and true to the brand values, customers will capitulate.

I will note however, that after a flurry of early 7-Series sightings with the big grill, I have not seen any on the streets of NYC. Not a good sign for the big grill.

By the way, isn't a big grill counter to the sleekness that people want in a sporty vehicle?

I haven't seen the upcoming 4-Series or M3, so I have to reserve judgement on that.

Regarding the current state of "Big Grille" though, it's both the US and Chinese markets. We should evaluate ourselves when we say it's *just* China, to make sure we're not trying to place blame on a current adversary for something we don't like.

Both the US and China have a taste for visible status indicators, compared to the rest of the world; maybe China a little more, but still. The Middle East as well, but they're a much smaller market.

I cross-shopped many options and ultimately bought a new facelifted 7. I prefer the new look. Previously, the 7 looked demure and half a segment down, compared to the S-Class. Now, visually at least, it's much more in line with what this category of car should project. It's upright, imposing, and has road presence, something the previous iteration lacked. It pushes the design language of BMW towards a bridge to Rolls-Royce, which is fitting giving its intended purpose and clientele.

People who actually buy cars costing this much money want them to look like they cost this much money, generally speaking. There are always outliers, but why would I spend $130,000 for a car that doesn't look that expensive?

You (the rhetorical "you") may not like the grille, but you're also not spending that much money on a car, are you? If you were, guess what, I bet you'd prefer a style and design that was aligned with the status and price.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and to be sure many of said opinions are genuinely held, including among those who might indeed be in the market for this vehicle, but I wager they're in the minority.

I wouldn't call the 7 a sporty vehicle. I'd call it a poor-man's Rolls-Royce, in which case the grille serves it very well.

BMW doesn't even know who you are.

Strong does not = UGLY
Ugly is not = to Strong
Ugly is that grill design direction and Peter Henrich might benefit from leaving the BMW tower once in a while and talk to the people that drive his cars... BMW drivers and dying for beautiful Strong Emotional design. This concept 4 is an abomination and is not is what any seeing person would consider strong, well maybe strongly UGLY.
Leave the Ivory Tower once in a while and learn what strong design is Peter, then you won't have to defend, FUGLY.

BMW's new grilles are ugly. End of story.

Many, many years ago, I lived in a major N.E. city. Parking on city streets was a major headache. Spots were so tight, parking the cars was a challenge. Most people just backed in till they hit the car behind them and pulled up till the hit the car parked in front and then backed up a foot.

Today, the idiots at Lexless have started a fad of have HUGE Grill that has ZERO protection. Anyone can do thousands of dollars in damage just backing into any of these Lexless cars.

No other makers are following by introducing their own gaping grills. Ridiculous!

I can see Chris Bangle saying "I bet you miss me know dotcha?". This design treatment is just all kinds of sad.

Even this is better than Bangle's atrocities against humanity.

i dont love it, but i do like it. im tired of the same boring design from bmw, its a shame theyve lost their classy ways of the e46 which i still love till this day, but look at the e90 and f series, both look so bland!

I actually REALLY like this 4 Series Concept

That grille is really unbecoming. Then imagine having to put a required plate in front of it.

Dear BMW,

I have owned about a dozen of your cars (including 2 currently), I hate the giant grill and will never buy one.

Sincerely,

c.

I showed my wife the new face and her comment was "Well it looks like I got my BMW in the nick of time."

Better call the whambulance.

In person, the grille does look good. I really like it on the 7 series. Specifically on the M Sport trim.
I think it also looks good on the X7.

Edsel