For nearly a year now the general consensus among automotive enthusiasts has been one of scorn and dismay over the very likely scenario that BMW might release their new M3 and M4 with a sort of pig-nosed set of kidney grilles. Well, the day came when the grilles were finally revealed and the hate has rained heavily on the heads over at BMW in many ways because many have forgotten the history of the iconic grille to begin with. It's a rich history with a vast array of adjustments and tweaks that have taken place over more than 85 years now.
The First Kidney Grilles Previewed The Latest
As everyone is complaining that the vertical focus on the latest M3 and M4 kidney grille is just ugly, let's take a long look at the very first kidney grille ever inserted on a BMW. This is the 303 from 1933. The split in the grille there is actually an early attempt at channeling airflow in a more functional and focused way, much in the same way the new version is used to dramatically influence airflow.
That 303 design just so happened to carry on and become a brand staple to the point where we sit today as many are saying that the new version simply takes up too much of the front of the car. Well, here's a reminder that the first one took up the entire front of the vehicle.
Vertically Biased Kidneys Kept On For Decades
The car above is the 503 from 1956 and while we see the overall grille space has diminished, the trend continued for two more decades until the M1 arrived and featured the leaping off point for the more horizontally biased kidneys we're so accustomed to today. While it's clear that this latest iteration is a dramatic and drastic departure from the more sedate styling we've come to love from BMW, it's dead in line with other recent M cars they've sold.
Think all the way back to the E60 5-series. The base 525 looked nothing like the M5. While the 525 was dapper and clean, the M5 was brooding, loud, and aggressive in every dimension. Since then, we've seen BMW do their best to truly differentiate the M cars from the rest of the lineup and their buyers want exactly that. Nobody wants to spend 60% more than the guy next to them at the stoplight only to look nearly the same. Ask Tesla owners about this, they hate it.
It's A Nose That Will Grow On Most
Isn't this the same thing we see with so many other vehicles that arrive? They're bold, they're brash, and they upset people. After a little time to acclimate, however, the general public starts to better appreciate and understand the design flourishes. Certianly this will go the same direction. While it looks a bit piggish today, in years to come it'll be a well-regarded M car.
Sources: BMW