BlueSky

Basically, in the early 2000's BMW reached the peak of its styling. All the cars looked top-notch (except for the Z3). There was nowhere to go from there, but down...

BlueEyes

You're entitled to your opinion, I suppose.

Moostafa29

Not a big fan, but my friend is in love with it. I'll have to show him the pics when I get a chance.

JRichter

I think I am "too tied to the boxy bimmers of old." Decades of mere evolutions in design with BMW is kinda what I expect from not only BMW but all the German automakers (by far my favorite designs). Something about the conservative, utilitarian look of VW's, Audi's, and BMW's appeals to me for some reason.

I don't think the current 5-series is at all ugly or hideous, but I can't label it as a perfect exterior design like I could the previous 3 or 4 generations. Every once in a while I see like a '85 of '86 5-series and think "wow that car has timeless styling and perfect proportions even after all these years." I might think differently years from now about the current 5-series.

I never fully liked M-B styling throughout the last 20 years or so, but really like some of its most recent designs (new S-series sedan for ex.)

I think Audi has got it going on right now, also. I think the styling is understated/conservative at first glance, but in person the design is striking and commands a presence. A recent A4 or A6 sticks out like a sore thumb among a bunch of drab looking cars when spotted on the road. And when I saw the RS4 in person at a car show I nearly fainted.

I agree with Japan8 about the Audi TT Shooting Brake Concept. They should build that for sure.

I left out one current BMW (not sold in US) that I have to admit I kinda like. It's another shoe! The BMW 135i is apealling to me for some reason. Something about a RWD small hatch with an I6 excites me. The episode of either Top Gear of Fifth Gear where they compared a 1-series to the R32 sold me on that even though in the real world pricewise I would have to go for the cheaper R32.

Japan8

What ruins the 5 Series are those ugly *** "eyebrows" on the headlights. The 6 Series does away with these which cleaned the front end up alot. With the wider stance... the M6 is just plain old hot.

The new M Coupe and Z4 Coupe... I do like them... i actually liked the old shoe too. My orthopedist that worked on my leg last summer has one. He likes to race rally and is planning on trading it in on the new GTR.

The 1 Series... you see a number of them in Tokyo. I like them... particularly the 135 M Sport. Although for the money and performance... A JDM Euro/German car mag picked the R32 over it... if I remember correctly they said it not only handled better, but was faster too (definitely had a better lap time). Either way... this is a car BMW needs to bring to the US... the Mazdaspeed 3 (and sales of the Mazda3), GTI and Caliber SRT-4 should tell them that there is a market for hot hatches... they just need the right pricing.

rotor_head

Whatanuglylookingcar.

JRichter

Agreed.

Umbra

reminds me of an old jaguar in styling

BlueEyes

Reminds me of a lot of the old coupes. Long hood and a roofline that flows into the rear. I love it.



etc etc