new bmw 7 series

Hooniverse Asks: What current new car design language makes past designs look even better?

This is the all-new BMW 7 Series. It takes the current family design language and applies it to the big luxo sedan. All this does is amplify a whole bunch of things that, in my opinion, look ridiculous. The split lighting in the front is odd. The blue touches look silly. Looking at the trunk smashing down into the rear bumper is not graceful. And of course, there is the treatment of the grilles. What this new 7 Series does is serve to make you look back fondly at any Chris Bangle-era BMW, and pine for the cars before that time period as well.

Now, I’m not some fool whose mind is rooted in the past. Sure, I like old cars. But I also enjoy a whole bunch of new stuff too. Genesis is crushing its designs right now, as is Kia at the moment. The newest big Range Rover looks excellent inside and out. And even newcomers Lucid and Rivian are making cool things.

But this newest 7 Series absolutely makes me think of the better design days of past BMW models. The interior of the new 7 certainly looks fantastic. But the outside? No thank you.

What other currently fresh cars make you conjure up fond memories of older design iterations?

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11 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What current new car design language makes past designs look even better?”

  1. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    “Now, I’m not some fool whose mind is rooted in the past.”

    We prefer the term “geologists.”

  2. GTXcellent Avatar

    Oh how the mighty have fallen. I still don’t understand how this creature was ever given the go-ahed.

    1. GTXcellent Avatar
      GTXcellent

      Ok, apparently I’m not smart enough to post pictures here.

    2. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Excellent example, but before the photo, your words would have fit the BMW just as well.

  3. Neight428 Avatar
    Neight428

    Put a modern interior and drivetrain into an E38/late 90’s seven series and WIN YOUR ASSES OFF.

  4. I_Borgward Avatar
    I_Borgward

    Design language: Dynamic Gauche. All that thing needs is Russian plates and a little blue light on the roof.

  5. outback_ute Avatar
    outback_ute

    Looks like the top & bottom halves of two entirely different cars joined together. I’m sure they must be bitter that they can’t make slim enough headlights to work without needing the lower part that you are clearly not meant to notice (why use light-coloured cars for the promo shots then?)

    The E65 is looking better by comparison…

  6. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    The Grand Wagoneer should have been named Bland Wagoneer. It’s not an awful design, but it certainly isn’t destined to become a timeless classic like the original. It’s just meh.

    But maybe that’s what Jeep was going for. After all, the typical Grand Wagoneer buyer used to be someone who was very wealthy, but didn’t want to look the part. The new versions could be targeting buyers who can afford six figures just to blend into the background.

  7. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Q: What current new car design language makes past designs look even better?
    A: Yes.

  8. Tiller188 Avatar
    Tiller188

    Greg Kachadurian pointed it out in a recent news roundup in reference to BMW’s new X7, but seeing a Hyundai-crossover-esque split headlight design on the 7 series sedan is even more jarring. Meanwhile Genesis’ take on split lights is working pretty well and becoming a major part of their brand “look”. Kinda feels like the Korean and German brands have come full circle from the days of the Kia Amanti doing its best impression of a W210 E Class.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Opirus#/media/File:2007-Kia-Amanti.jpg

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/1999_E320.webp

  9. Tiller188 Avatar
    Tiller188

    @ GTXcellent — ha, and you thought YOU weren’t smart enough to post pictures here…whoops. Oh well, leaving it, gotta get back to work.