The new generation of BMW 1 Series it has already been accompanied by enough controversy, by doing away with the elements that defined it in the previous two generations — the rear-wheel drive and inline six-cylinder blocks.
As if that weren't enough, the styling of the newly unveiled new generation (F40) also seems to be up for discussion — is there a car where that doesn't happen when it's introduced?
There are parts of its design that we can do little or nothing, as a result of the new architecture, which result in totally different proportions — the engine in a transverse front position makes the bonnet shorter and the front axle in a more rearward position, precisely the opposite of the predecessors.
In fact, it's the stylistic choices that BMW has taken in defining the identity of the new 1 Series that cause some controversy, at least for The Sketch Monkey, which we've made known to you on previous occasions.
From his point of view, what the BMW 1 Series lacks is to look like a… BMW — as we can see at the beginning of his video, he points out the “lack of identity” that his face appears to have, by pointing out the similarities with other proposals segment, like the Ford Focus or the Kia Ceed.
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When it comes to the design of its models, BMW has been in the spotlight, mainly due to the huge growth of the double kidney that we've been seeing — have you seen the new X7 and 7 Series?
The new 1 Series also receives a larger double kidney compared to its predecessor, and these now appear visually joined by the rim that surrounds them — a detail already seen in other models of the brand, and also criticized by Marouane, the owner of the YouTube channel. The Sketch Monkey.
According to the author, he regrets that the concepts and prototypes that BMW has made known — i Vision Dynamics, Vision Next 100, 328 Hommage, 2002 Hommage, CSL Hommage — end up having little or no repercussion on road models, "a missed opportunity”, according to him, since they end up “being” much more BMW than the production models we have access to.
Get to work
In this sense, The Sketch Monkey, went to work and took the new 1 Series, in this case the sportier M135i, to give it a more BMW “face”.
He decides to “clean” the underside of the bumper, changing the design of the M135i's scalloped XL air intakes to more conventional but also more assertive shapes; the headlights assume a more horizontal position; and the double kidneys are properly separated and resized, with lower height.
In the end, the changes don't look very deep, but there are enough differences to be quite distinct — compare the two images below.
What do you think? Is it better or worse?