[BigT]

I said it earlier and my fears seem to be confirmed.
They ruined the concept idea of the front design.

When I first saw the concept, the front reminded my on modern airplane front design like on this fighter:



I tried to adapt the distorted leak image (typical smartphone wide angle lens shot) and to find the lines on both cars.



And I really don't get it

Is this due to the importance of the Asian market were wonky shapes (in western eyes) are obviously preferred over the clear elegance as we like it here?

Still hope it looks somehow crisp in nature...

[Mastersteve]

I like the rear and i like the side, but the front looks like total shit

[ska///235i]

I do see a lil Toyota there

[nbennettksu]

It's bad ass and it looks classic

[KrashFinatik]

Originally Posted by Greg FEightytwo

miata

Bite your tongue mister!

[Greg FEightytwo]

Originally Posted by KrashFinatik

Bite your tongue mister!

ummm it looks cheap and no m version planned sad day for bmw sharing with toyota as well

[SoCali E36]

Originally Posted by nbennettksu

It's bad ass and it looks classic

Pass the meth pipe. I need it to see what you're seeing.

[M3EATERS]

I will stay with my e89. At least it has a hard top and isn't a Supra.

[BigT]

Left is from a former dealer information about E61 LCI changes.



I'm not a design expert but wouldn't you say the grille looks more powerful on the concept exactly because of this mentioned aspect?

This is all not so important if you're interested in that car.
But I really would have considered to sell my beloved Z3 if the new one would have looked as iconic as the concept (and were available in an i-version of course! ).

The new one is supposed to be emotional at least from a driving perspective (close to M2....?) and that's very

[E9TOU]

The concept design is really clean and elegant. The production car is the opposite of this — really disappointing.

[pruettfan]

I think many misunderstand the purpose of a concept car. A true concept car can never be manufactured because they design exercises that are free from engineering restraints, crash standards and cost restrictions. They are intended to get the designers to establish a language that is going to be used for a production model and to test the public's desire for these concepts. The cases where manufactures have closely followed the concept in establishing a production car have more often than not resulted in severely compromised cars like the Gen 5 Camaro which has perhaps the worst ergonomics of a modern production car I have ever seen.

[pruettfan]

Originally Posted by Greg FEightytwo

ummm it looks cheap and no m version planned sad day for bmw sharing with toyota as well

The reality is this is a niche car and its in a niche that is dying off so the fact that is it even being made is something to be celebrated. If Toyota wasn't a partner I doubt BMW would have even considered building it.

[F80NJM3]

Rear is okay, front is not okay.

[hans007]

the headlights look weirdly bug eyed.

like the F22 1 series pre-LCI had weird looking headlights, and so does this based on those pics. the concept looked so much sleeker and swept back and well proportioned.

[M3JHWK]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I think many misunderstand the purpose of a concept car. A true concept car can never be manufactured because they design exercises that are free from engineering restraints, crash standards and cost restrictions. They are intended to get the designers to establish a language that is going to be used for a production model and to test the public's desire for these concepts. The cases where manufactures have closely followed the concept in establishing a production car have more often than not resulted in severely compromised cars like the Gen 5 Camaro which has perhaps the worst ergonomics of a modern production car I have ever seen.

Finally someone said it, thank you. They take design cues from the concept, often nothing more. Of course there are exceptions such as the E60 M5 concept, for instance, which was essentially a production ready example of a concept. I'm sure they'd want to give us a car that mirrored the concept's looks if they could but, as previously stated, this just simply isn't possible on many fronts. Blame the government agencies that dictate such matters.
As far as how the production model looks, I like it for the most part. Not an overly gorgeous thing but I'll reserve proper judgment for when more photos appear, in different colors.

[LemonOne]

Looking forward to the LCI

[emdeuce]

Side and back looks great! Front end looks like a very surprised pig from angry birds.

[supra93]

I think my only complaint about the front would be the headlights. I wish they were more sleek and slim like the concept. The rear and side looks good to me though.

[doccyber]

Originally Posted by duercos

Eww

Exactly my thoughts too.

[Teutonic]

And here comes the hoodline...
Again....

The person that is responsible for that is an idiot.

Next please...

[Powaup]

I'd hit it from the side but looks awkward from the front hahah. Could just be angles and the color combo

[sugaki]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I think many misunderstand the purpose of a concept car. A true concept car can never be manufactured because they design exercises that are free from engineering restraints, crash standards and cost restrictions. They are intended to get the designers to establish a language that is going to be used for a production model and to test the public's desire for these concepts. The cases where manufactures have closely followed the concept in establishing a production car have more often than not resulted in severely compromised cars like the Gen 5 Camaro which has perhaps the worst ergonomics of a modern production car I have ever seen.

Waving off any bad design translation from concept > production is lazy excusing on behalf of the manufacturer without concrete evidence or signs of that.

Ok, hood line I can see coming from crash safety/packaging, for sake of radiator support location or whatever. But the overwrought mess that is the lower front grill is simply due to poor design, nothing else. Weird black plastic outcropping would increase, not decrease molding complexity and cost, versus a much simpler traditional design.

Nor do I think it’s because of the wide angle distortion of this looking meh. Thought the leaked 8 looked disappointing, just as I did the production.

Overall the design isn’t bad (hideous front bumper is probably an M trim thing anyway), but it looks very derivative to me, like a Fiat Spyder and SL has a baby.