- The BMW kidney grille is one of the automaker's most iconic design aspects.
- The first kidney grille appeared in 1933.
- The newest kidney grille is extremely polarizing but it's not going anywhere anytime soon.
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Say what you want about BMW, but you cannot deny that its signature kidney grille is one of the most iconic front ends in automotive history. Its shape may have changed over the years, but the kidney style has always been there.
The newest kidney grille — which debuted on the current 4 Series — is controversial, to say the least. Fans on social media denounced it, but BMW's head of design, Demagogy Dukec, recently told Autocar the grille isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
The automaker wants its cars to stand out, Dukec said. To do that, it made the grille distinguished. That's one word for it!
The saga of the BMW kidney grille started in 1933, according to BMW. Since then, nearly every single BMW has had one as a nose. The grille has undergone 13 designs over the course of 88 years.
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