It's been more than a decade now since the first BMW 4 Series was introduced on the world stage. It made its official debut back in January 2013 at the North American International Auto Show held in Detroit. It was marketed as a compact executive car and came in three different body styles, including a coupe, a convertible, and a five-door liftback. It was largely a hit from the first time it was rolled out to the public as a 2014 model.
For the first few years, the design of the BMW 4 Series stayed mostly the same. But BMW redesigned the 4 Series before releasing the 2020 model, and the automaker made the 4 Series look dramatically different in the process. While many of the performance specs for the 2020 model and the subsequent models improved upon what the 4 Series had offered in the past, its design wasn't well received by everyone. It has led to a lot of speculation about what might come next for the 4 Series.
So, is BMW going to redesign the 4 Series soon to help stop some of the criticism of its second-generation design? Find out below.
The Big Design Changes BMW Made to the Second-Generation 4 Series
When BMW was redesigning the 4 Series back in the late 2010s, it wanted to give it a more upscale appearance. Its goal was to separate the first-generation 4 Series from the second-generation 4 Series by making a series of design changes that would help it look more luxurious than it already did. But there was one design change, in particular, that caught everyone's eye right from the start. BMW added a gigantic kidney-shaped grille to the front of the 2020 BMW 4 Series. It made it look much different than the first-generation 4 Series.
Criticism of the Second-Generation BMW 4 Series Design
BMW may have succeeded when it came to creating a separation between the first-generation and second-generation 4 Series. But the second-generation 4 Series caught a lot of flak pretty much from the start. A lot of people who had been fans of the 4 Series previously wondered what BMW was thinking when it added a large kidney grille to the 4 Series. It rubbed these people the wrong way and stopped at least some of them from wanting to invest in the second-generation 4 Series.
How BMW Responded to Criticism of the BMW 4 Series Design
BMW had a very simple reason for wanting to incorporate a big kidney grille into the design of the second-generation 4 Series in the first place. It revealed that it was designed this way to pay tribute to the BMW 328, which was popular way back in the 1930s. But that didn't stop some people from continuing to criticize it. In fact, even former BMW designer Frank Stephenson, who played a part in designing several iconic BMW models, came down hard on the design of the second-generation 4 Series.
Stephenson said it was “difficult to understand” why BMW decided to go in this direction when designing the second-generation 4 Series. He also said that he didn't think the grille meshed with the proportions of the rest of the car, and he even pointed out that it didn't seem as though BMW had considered that some people were going to have to stick license plates in the middle of the second-generation 4 Series kidney grille. Stephenson said what at least some people were thinking at the time and made their criticisms more legitimate.
But BMW stood strong even in the face of criticism. Senior Vice President of BMW Group Design Adrian van Hooydonk referred to the blowback BMW received as “brutal.” And BMW's head of design Domagoj Dukec said it wouldn't stop the automaker from moving forward with the design. During a 2021 interview, Dukec said, “If you want to create something that stands out, it must be distinguished, and it has to be different.”
What BMW May Be Planning for the Next-Generation 4 Series
About three years have passed since BMW ruffled more than a few feathers by redesigning the second-generation 4 Series. It's given the automaker plenty of time to think about which direction to go in next with its 4 Series. But from the looks of things, it doesn't appear as though the brand is going to move away from the kidney grille that has made so many people see red.
BMW has yet to make any sort of formal announcement about the next-generation 4 Series. But the 2025 BMW 4 Series was captured out in the wild recently, and guess what? Although it seems BMW has made some other subtle design changes to such things as its LED lights, the grille that's been featured on the front of the 4 Series since 2020 is still intact.
Does this mean the next-generation BMW 4 Series will definitely come with the same controversial grille as the current 4 Series? Not necessarily. But it sure sounds like BMW might continue to dig in its heels and run with the same grille to keep on paying tribute to the 1930s BMW 328. Even if this grille has had its fair share of critics, it's also becoming a part of the 4 Series legacy for better or worse. And that might not be a bad thing for BMW, so long as people keep talking about the 4 Series.
Do You Like the BMW 4 Series Design?
While it might feel like everyone has been against the design of the second-generation BMW 4 Series, this isn't the case. As BMW's head of design Domagoj Dukec said, its design was “different,” and at least some people have applauded BMW for taking a chance with it. Are you one of them? If so, you should consider test-driving the latest BMW 4 Series at Apple BMW of York, Pennsylvania. We can also get you behind the wheel of many other new and used BMW vehicles. Contact us today to schedule a test drive.
BMW Concept 4 by Rutger van der Maar is licensed with CC BY 2.0