- Frank Stephenson has some positive things to say about the new BMW iX3.
- The kidney grilles are ‘too squeezed’ while the rear is ‘a bit generic’.
- Stephenson worked on the first generation X5 and the first Mini of the BMW era.
The iX3 is a big deal for several reasons. BMW has not only launched the next generation of electric motors and batteries, but also the tenth generation of iDrive. In addition to hardware and software, the first Neue Klasse model of the modern era also features a fresh design language. These will be spread across almost the entire product range sequentially, with around 40 models coming by the end of 2027.
But someone who had worked for a German luxury brand at the time didn’t like Munich’s new design direction. Frank Stephenson was involved in the creative process of the first generation X5 as well as the first Mini Cooper in the BMW era. This Moroccan-born designer is also known for more exotic cars such as the Ferrari F430, Maserati MC12, and several McLaren models, including the P1.
In an interview with Top Gear magazine, Stephenson was brutally honest in his assessment of the design of the new BMW iX3. He argued that the electric crossover lacked “visual excitement,” and called its fender creases “visually surprising.” Elsewhere, the retro-modern kidneys feature “new/old beaver-toothed grille graphics” but are “too pinched, almost puckered.” However, the man who worked on the iconic Ford Escort RS Cosworth still thinks it’s an improvement over the oversized grille on the current model.
Photo by: BMW
It continues from there. Stephenson isn’t a fan of the front bumper either, claiming the lower intake area is “too busy” for an EV that doesn’t have the cooling requirements of a vehicle powered by a combustion engine. Moving to the rear, the rear end is “rather generic” and lacks the instantly recognizable rear lights of BMWs of the past.
Stephenson summed it up by saying, “Nice try, but better luck next time.” Looking back at his old reviews of BMW design, we see a pattern. The talented designer, who also worked on several modest Fiat models, is not a fan of today’s BMWs. In his YouTube serieshe once said that “current design has lost its way.”
In a separate clip published on YouTube, he called the XM’s front design “makes no sense at all.” In a different video featuring the 2 Series Coupe, he also rhetorically asks if BMW “keeps digging a deeper hole,” while another video features an oversized grille.
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Source: BMW
Motorcycle Pickup1: If you read comments on social media, BMW’s design is certainly controversial. However, sales figures show a different story. This split-opinion approach worked in the company’s favor, finishing ahead of Mercedes and Audi in the luxury car sales race. After all, we’ll never know what those numbers would have looked like had BMW taken a less polarizing design approach.
The return of the Neue Klasse enhances a smoother, less complicated surface. BMW’s decision to restyle its iconic kidney grille and make it smaller may entice more people back into showrooms. Overall, there’s less visual drama than before, and we’re eager to see how the new design language translates to the sedan. We don’t have to wait any longer, as the new i3 will debut on March 18.
