Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Discussion
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
To be honest I thought all of the new designs were quite a step away from the previous - especially the 5 series and Z4.Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Maybe it is more to do with you not liking the current design evolution more than the designs looking the same?
You must be sick of the 911 and sevens!
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Lets be fair, has BMW even ever got to the road?Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Pretty good looking cars are a rarity in the BMW line up and have always been. M1, Z8 and... er, umm that's probably about it. Sure there are many that claim the M3 is pretty. It isn't, not even slightly.
Personally I quite like the slab sided e30's and the z4c and M Coupe, even the X6. But the rest are pretty much on par with my expectations of a BMW, somewhere between bland and ugly but with a liberal dose of individuality.
I think anything they did was going to appear rather bland after the step change to the last set of models.
Unfortunately, they seem to be going backwards, to my eye - they went from boringly hansom, to interesting but ugly (which is an improvement to my mind) and now seem to have settled on boring and ugly. To some extent I think it's inevitable just because the cars have got so... bloated. It's hard to make a car look svelte when you have to provide clearance under the bonnet for pedestrian safety and hugely thick pillars and doors containing a million airbags for side impact and roll-over protection.
A few of their competition are producing slightly better looking cars, but none of them are massively better looking and of course none of them drive as well.
Unfortunately, they seem to be going backwards, to my eye - they went from boringly hansom, to interesting but ugly (which is an improvement to my mind) and now seem to have settled on boring and ugly. To some extent I think it's inevitable just because the cars have got so... bloated. It's hard to make a car look svelte when you have to provide clearance under the bonnet for pedestrian safety and hugely thick pillars and doors containing a million airbags for side impact and roll-over protection.
A few of their competition are producing slightly better looking cars, but none of them are massively better looking and of course none of them drive as well.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 19th October 08:34
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series. << false
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4. << false
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3. << false
New X3 looks like old X3. << false
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around. << false
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon ^(<< false) that has been around for ages. << false
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4. << false
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3. << false
New X3 looks like old X3. << false
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around. << false
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon ^(<< false) that has been around for ages. << false
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
TommyBuoy said:
Maybe it is more to do with you not liking the current design evolution more than the designs looking the same?
You must be sick of the 911 and sevens!
Well I've always been a BM fan (I've run four) and own an E91. And do like the overall design/styling theme. The previous 5 is/was a stunner. The Z4 looks good, though not quite as good as the previous one. Ditto the 5, though the new one also has a scaled-down 7 look about it. (Such is its visual impact I can't decide whether it's a mini-7 or a tweaked 5...).You must be sick of the 911 and sevens!
Porsche have always looked over their shoulder for design inspiration (I also have a 997 BTW
). I expect a bit more adventure from BMW.What I find worrying is that they are starting to look like Mitsubishi's - especially the lower end cross over type cars.
Thats not a good thing for me either - dare I say some of the models styling is making them look a bit cheap.
Its funny because the E90 took a good while to grow on me and now I love it, but can't see myself loving these come 3-4 yrs time.
Mind you just bought my 3rd Volvo so who am I to judge.
Thats not a good thing for me either - dare I say some of the models styling is making them look a bit cheap.
Its funny because the E90 took a good while to grow on me and now I love it, but can't see myself loving these come 3-4 yrs time.
Mind you just bought my 3rd Volvo so who am I to judge.
300bhp/ton said:
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Lets be fair, has BMW even ever got to the road?Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Pretty good looking cars are a rarity in the BMW line up and have always been. M1, Z8 and... er, umm that's probably about it. Sure there are many that claim the M3 is pretty. It isn't, not even slightly.
Personally I quite like the slab sided e30's and the z4c and M Coupe, even the X6. But the rest are pretty much on par with my expectations of a BMW, somewhere between bland and ugly but with a liberal dose of individuality.
Maxym said:
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
I resemble that comment! 
Honestly though, the new Z4 looks nothing like the old one where it matters... in the details.
The old Z4 was a new concept and cohesive. The new car has just tried to rip off the old design style, and failed imo.
I will agree generally though. The Bangle era got some greats, and some fails, but all in it was a positive direction for BMW to take for the last decade.
Now it is certainly time for a radical change again. Maybe back towards something more restrained and regal looking, no idea really... but this dragging out the Bangle flame look but diluting it with 'new' design cues really isn't working at all.
New direction please!
Dave
daveco said:
300bhp/ton said:
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Lets be fair, has BMW even ever got to the road?Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Pretty good looking cars are a rarity in the BMW line up and have always been. M1, Z8 and... er, umm that's probably about it. Sure there are many that claim the M3 is pretty. It isn't, not even slightly.
Personally I quite like the slab sided e30's and the z4c and M Coupe, even the X6. But the rest are pretty much on par with my expectations of a BMW, somewhere between bland and ugly but with a liberal dose of individuality.
Zod said:
daveco said:
300bhp/ton said:
Maxym said:
New 5 series looks like previous 5 series.
Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Lets be fair, has BMW even ever got to the road?Latest Z4 looks like old Z4.
Latest 7 series looks like previous 7 series.
X1 looks like X3.
New X3 looks like old X3.
X5 has looked the same as long as it's been around.
(X6 looks hideous, of course.)
1 series coupe based on saloon that has been around for ages.
Is that it? Have BMW run out of design ideas? I remember when the release of a new BM always had a big 'wow factor'. Now it's only a yawn factor.
Has BMW styling/design reached the end of the road?
Edited by Maxym on Tuesday 19th October 07:52
Pretty good looking cars are a rarity in the BMW line up and have always been. M1, Z8 and... er, umm that's probably about it. Sure there are many that claim the M3 is pretty. It isn't, not even slightly.
Personally I quite like the slab sided e30's and the z4c and M Coupe, even the X6. But the rest are pretty much on par with my expectations of a BMW, somewhere between bland and ugly but with a liberal dose of individuality.
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