BMW has taken to the show floor of the Frankfurt auto show to present us with the Concept 4. According to BMW it "hovers close to the road," which doesn't mean it can float like the Delorean in Back to the Future. Rather, it means that the 4 Series that follows it will closely resemble it.
So how it's received matters. The first hurdle will be the grille. As head of BMW design Domagoj Dukec explains, the grille is an important and historical part of the design.
"The kidney grille has always been a signature feature of BMW cars," says Dukec. "The BMW Concept 4 presents a confident and classy take on this iconic feature. At the same time, the BMW Concept 4 offers a look ahead to the expressive face of the 4 Series range."
It is, apparently, a callback to the 328 and the 3.0 CSi. The grille was also a chance for designers to stick in an Easter egg or two. The grating inside the kidneys is made up of 4s joined together.
It is also enormous.
Back when the updated 7 series was being premiered, BMW told us that its bigger grille was the direct result of customer feedback. This may have influenced the decision on the Concept 4.
BMW also points out that there is no glass over the headlights, making them "threedimensional sculptures" unlike those two-dimensional sculptures, often referred to as drawings.
Although the face may be a challenge-people attending Frankfurt report that it looks better than it photographs-the lines of the coupe body are beyond reproach. Simple and elegant, they play on all of the 4 Series' best attributes well.
Painted in Forbidden Red, we sincerely hope that the color won't be.
"The BMW Concept 4 embodies the aesthetic essence of the BMW brand. It combines perfect proportions with a clear and precise design," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.
So how it's received matters. The first hurdle will be the grille. As head of BMW design Domagoj Dukec explains, the grille is an important and historical part of the design.
"The kidney grille has always been a signature feature of BMW cars," says Dukec. "The BMW Concept 4 presents a confident and classy take on this iconic feature. At the same time, the BMW Concept 4 offers a look ahead to the expressive face of the 4 Series range."
It is, apparently, a callback to the 328 and the 3.0 CSi. The grille was also a chance for designers to stick in an Easter egg or two. The grating inside the kidneys is made up of 4s joined together.
It is also enormous.
Back when the updated 7 series was being premiered, BMW told us that its bigger grille was the direct result of customer feedback. This may have influenced the decision on the Concept 4.
BMW also points out that there is no glass over the headlights, making them "threedimensional sculptures" unlike those two-dimensional sculptures, often referred to as drawings.
Although the face may be a challenge-people attending Frankfurt report that it looks better than it photographs-the lines of the coupe body are beyond reproach. Simple and elegant, they play on all of the 4 Series' best attributes well.
Painted in Forbidden Red, we sincerely hope that the color won't be.
"The BMW Concept 4 embodies the aesthetic essence of the BMW brand. It combines perfect proportions with a clear and precise design," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.