[JoeyBananaz18]

I have yet to see the grill in person. I've been seeing the new design only in threads on here and other auto media sites. I'm not even going to try and hide the fact that I was (and in many ways still am) a critic of the grill. I've come around to it a bit but only a bit. I'd go as far as to say that if the grill was a normal size, I wouldn't have any other qualms about the car. But that's not what I came here to discuss.

I've have something on my mind for the past few days and felt compelled to get it off my chest. Let me start at the beginning....
No, I'm still not 100% sold on the grill.

And now for the ending....
That's ok.

Ok, middle....
I was watching TV a couple of weeks ago and saw a commercial for the new Lexus IS. I'm only saying "IS" because I don't really know for sure if it was for the entire range of IS variants or the F-sport. But I saw some moving shots of a grey one and thought "god damn, that looks fantastic."
It then dawned on me that they still are using that crazy "predator" style grill and I was confused. I didn't realize that it's not exactly new. It's still the same generation as the 2020 but i guess it's there version of an LCI or facelift. And I think it looks awesome. They corrected a few things that annoyed me, all while avoiding the one thing we seem to hate when referring to that car.

Starting at the front, they corrected something that killed me every time I saw one- they made the headlights larger. 2020 and earlier had headlights that were way too small. The F-sport bumper side vents are a much sharper shape to them. They compliment the main grill much better.

The side is pretty much the same. Theres some change to the line around the rear door but i had to really look to see it. What i did notice was that the side of the tail lights no longer look like they're getting sucked into the rear wheel well. You know what im talking about.

Finally on the rear the tail lights now have a bar that stretches across the trunk, a la 911. I think it make the IS look a bit more "tomorrow" instead of "yesterday". I thought of the TRON remake when I saw it.

And the front grill is the same. All those changes and the huge, unsightly, gross, weird, polygonal design grill is still there. And the car looks (in my eyes) to be fantastic.

I guess what I'm saying is that while the grill may be polarizing today, I think if we give BMW designers enough time to get used to building a car around it we may end up with an excellent design that everyone (or at least more of us) can come around to- and the grill doesn't have to go. I know it's something that's as divided as, hmmmm, a particular country at the moment, but like that too, let's give it some time and see how things pan out.

[VetteGuy]

Very adult indeed.

[Transfer]

I saw that too and thought wow it looks good in the flashy blips we see in the ad. Here are some screen shots and for me, I think it looks good because of low ride height, tinted windows, silver and black, the hood lines, and those headlights are great. I don't even really notice the grill. That's not something you can say about the G80, but it's something I'm getting used to at this point and it isn't a deal breaker any more.

[JoeyBananaz18]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I saw that too and thought wow it looks good in the flashy blips we see in the ad. Here are some screen shots and for me, I think it looks good because of low ride height, tinted windows, silver and black, the hood lines, and those headlights are great. I don't even really notice the grill. That's not something you can say about the G80, but it's something I'm getting used to at this point and it isn't a deal breaker any more.

Yes! that's the specific shot I was talking about!

[antzcrashing]

Actually thought the trunk of the IS looked odd. But after looking again the car looks overall good. Still not sold on the butterfly shape of the IS front grill but I cN buy that some subtle bumper and headlights changes helped it

[mmckenzie]

Pretty car but in the end, basically irrelevant with that Camry engine.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by mmckenzie

Pretty car but in the end, basically irrelevant with that Camry engine.

Yeah after I posted that I checked the specs. NOPE.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Transfer

I saw that too and thought wow it looks good in the flashy blips we see in the ad. Here are some screen shots and for me, I think it looks good because of low ride height, tinted windows, silver and black, the hood lines, and those headlights are great. I don't even really notice the grill. That's not something you can say about the G80, but it's something I'm getting used to at this point and it isn't a deal breaker any more.

I am not in love with the Lexus grill but the problem with the BMW new grill IMHO is not the size but the orientation. The Lexus grill is still wider than it is tall whereas the new Edsel grills are taller than they are wide. In my opinion, they make the car look soft and fat, not lean and mean which is what I would expect from a BMW.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by mmckenzie

Pretty car but in the end, basically irrelevant with that Camry engine.

Are there Camry's that put out over 500hp?

[Edit: I looked them up - 301hp for the most expensive XSE V6]

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by snareman

Are there Camry's that put out over 500hp?

[Edit: I looked them up - 301hp for the most expensive XSE V6]

Never heard of TT Camry? Ok, me neither...

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by VetteGuy

Very adult indeed.

Rare here.

[S55.Dani]

I did these two renderings of what I thought would make sense on this chassis

[snareman]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Never heard of TT Camry? Ok, me neither...

Is that the Camry with the racing stripes and the large rear wing? I saw a mom at soccer practice with one of those...

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by S55.Dani

I did these two renderings of what I thought would make sense on this chassis

While I prefer what we got, your rendering isn't bad.

[VetteGuy]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I am not in love with the Lexus grill but the problem with the BMW new grill IMHO is not the size but the orientation. The Lexus grill is still wider than it is tall whereas the new Edsel grills are taller than they are wide. In my opinion, they make the car look soft and fat, not lean and mean which is what I would expect from a BMW.

I disagree and think the more vertical appearance of the G8x grille is more lean and mean and aggressive looking than its predecessor. I have not seen a G8x in person yet, but I don’t believe that the grille is actually any taller than it is overall wide. I base that on the fact that the grille on my M440iX is actually nine inches wider than it is tall and the top edge of the grille stands no taller than the top edge of the grille on a G20. I’m looking forward to seeing the car in person to judge it.

[bmwdrive]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

You can take that to the bank. It is 100% assured that the rear of the M3 will receive changes to any parts it shares with the 3 Series that are changed.

Of course there are will be some revisions to the electronics and interior with this LCI as well. When applicable, those will also affect the M3, and where parts are shared across the entire G2x/G8x lineup, the M4 too.

I read that the G20 LCI in 2022 will bring the interior curved display from the iX and i4.

Is it coming to the G8x as well?

[Jcali86]

Originally Posted by danf72

I read that the G20 LCI in 2022 will bring the interior curved display from the iX and i4.

Is it coming to the G8x as well?

I hope not. Mercedes has by far the worst interior with that awful single screen display, it's no surprise they are moving away from it now with the new cars. If BMW do and I leased I'd just buy the car and keep it to avoid that screen layout.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by danf72

I read that the G20 LCI in 2022 will bring the interior curved display from the iX and i4.

Is it coming to the G8x as well?

A little OT, but good question nevertheless. I suppose I should have been less general in my blanket statement about shared G20/G80 content relative to the LCI. Updates to shared exterior parts will change for both, count on that. But the interior? In this specific case, not necessarily.

ynguldyn did not mention the M3/M4 in his recent statement:

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

G20, G22, G23, ICE G26, and G42 will get a new interface/infotainment/communications package, including the dash we will first see in i4. G20 will get it for LCI in 07/22, G42 in 08/22, G22, G23, and G26 in 03/23. No other existing model seems to be slated for that interface.

Although he does not include them, it seems unlikely this new dashboard will skip the G8x M3/M4 for their entire production runs. However, it's also not likely to arrive at two different times, such as for the G80 in 7/22 and for the G82/G83 in 3/23.

I stress that this is just my guess, but I suspect that all G8x M3/M4 will see this change in 3/23. We may learn more as these dates draw closer.

[Flamingi]

Originally Posted by snareman

The base 430 and the M4 are the best of the bunch. That little smiley face mouth on the M Sport not so much.

Agree with that, always felt like the non M-Sport was the best look to the 4 series. Especially with that nice green they offer. I attached a pic of the full car, so it's easier to see the difference to the M Sport version you all have seen by now. (Also, that completely white interior is really gorgeous).

[Rick955]

Doesn't look like it's going anywhere soon!

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a3...ike-it-or-not/

[pooyab]

Seems like sales of the new 4 series isn't doing too well here in the Bay Area and I doubt the ugly G8X will be much better. Should be interesting to see if BMW sticks to their guns and leaves the grille as is.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by pooyab

Seems like sales of the new 4 series isn't doing too well here in the Bay Area and I doubt the ugly G8X will be much better. Should be interesting to see if BMW sticks to their guns and leaves the grille as is.

How you can assume that???