Would You Want To Be Caught Owning An UGLY Car?

The new BMW 4 Series is one of the very best new cars I’ve driven this year. There’s nothing it doesn’t do brilliantly. Apart from having a bumpy ride on back roads. But I can forgive BMW that, because the handling is so tight, and it’s not Munich’s fault that British roads are rougher than a Matthew McConaughey snoring fit.

But I don’t want one, even though it’s a beautifully made, refined coupe. And that’s because of how it looks. Not because it’s ugly, per se, but because it’s insecure. This is a car that screams very loudly ‘I’VE GOT A BEE-EMM-DOUBLE-YOU’, and that very fact makes it deeply uncool. If Lionel Messi or Lewis Hamilton got tattoos that read ‘I’m statistically the greatest of all time’ then it would take the sheen off their talent. And that’s what the BMW mega grille does. It broadcasts a vulgar image to the world.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/9/2020 11:00:44 AM

+1 Boost

Don't blame the designers. They are creative people and are paid to push boundaries. Blame the board who approved it with that grill instead of sending it back for a tweak to be presented again later.

PUGPROUD - 11/9/2020 11:25:05 AM

+3 Boost

I get it's ugly...for years BMW has been pushed to be less conservative, to expand its design envelope, to be more dynamic and when it tries it gets trashed.

jprescott - 11/9/2020 11:40:21 AM

+4 Boost

Once you see this in the flesh as I have you may disagree. The photos do not do this justice. The grill is no more "overstated" than the Audi line. Overall it is an attractive and contemporary looking car

Agent009 - 11/9/2020 2:10:20 PM

0 Boost

Yeah but as with Audi's "Billy The Bigmouth Bass" front grille a few years ago, we either get used to it or go numb to it.

MDarringer - 11/9/2020 6:53:13 PM

0 Boost

No. In person this is GHASTLY.

HoustonMidtown - 11/9/2020 11:51:40 AM

+5 Boost

Finally saw one in person at the dealer this past weekend - the front end is still ugly in person - the rest of the car is fine, even somewhat boring, which is why the front end doesn't go with the rest of the design - not cohesive at all

cidflekken - 11/9/2020 1:23:24 PM

+2 Boost

This Sprite colors that they're introducing the new M cars in isn't helping matters. Really, just overall disappointment. The entire front end, from the toothy grille to the squinty headlights is just the worst aesthetic. I'd take a big fat, juicy grille that looks nice any day, even the Terminator grille from Lexus, over this.

Section_31_JTK - 11/9/2020 7:31:22 PM

+1 Boost

Nothing is as ugly as the Tesla FuglyTruck.

valhallakey - 11/9/2020 8:57:05 PM

+2 Boost

Maybe a pure black car would hide it a bit? Otherwise they really need a mid life update next year.

mre30 - 11/10/2020 9:43:22 AM

+1 Boost

Basic issue...front end (whether you like it or not) does not match or complement the rest of the vehicle.

It looks the front of one car was grafted onto the body of another car.

The styling discordance is jarring.

bmw7er - 11/10/2020 9:29:32 PM

+1 Boost

You know what they say about opinions. Saw one today at the local BMW showroom. I don't think it's ugly and if I wanted that class of a car, I would buy that one. The problem I see is that it lost its identity. It could be any Japanese car. Loss of the kink was really a bad move IMHO.

carloslassiter - 11/10/2020 9:48:26 PM

+1 Boost

It's not for me.