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What Makes a BMW a BMW
At the heart of BMW's design philosophy is the notion that form should always follow function. Thus, the essential shape of BMWs – long hood with short overhang – is a direct result of our engineers' quest for perfect balance. BMW design is timeless and distinct, with classic details like the twin kidney grilles and four headlights connecting BMWs across generations. Avoiding fads and fashions, BMW is always looking ahead, leading the way in designing the cars of the future.
The mantra of BMW design is "form follows function." For example, the integrated front spoiler on all BMWs reduces the amount of air flowing under the car, hence minimizing front-end lift at speed. The very shape of BMWs is a result of precise aerodynamic engineering. Each closed-body BMW has been designed for a low drag coefficient. With air flowing smoothly over the body, the engine has less drag to overcome. BMWs are also designed to minimize aerodynamic lift. Thus the legendary cornering and road-hugging agility of The Ultimate Driving Machine®.
Certainly the BMW element with the most unusual name is the Hofmeister kink, the distinctive bend in every BMW's C-pillars (the metal roof supports that separate the rear side windows from the back glass). Although it appeared as early as the 1930s, the kink formally debuted with the "New Class" 1500 Sedan at the 1961 Frankfurt auto show and was named after Wilhelm Hofmeister, then director of design for BMW. Aside from its pleasing visual effect, the Hofmeister kink subtly highlights a BMW trademark: rear-wheel drive.
One of the most visible of BMW design elements, often seen rising up in rear-view mirrors, is the traditional "kidney" grille. Introduced at the 1933 Geneva auto show, the distinct shape of the kidneys first emerged from an effort to reduce aerodynamic drag. Over time, they have evolved from tall ovals into their now-emblematic low, wide kidney-like shape. They continue to symbolize the timelessness of BMW design and engineering.
The four round headlights or "eyes" of the BMW represent one of the most recent BMW design elements. They first emerged with the six-cylinder 320i and 323i as a rank marker designed to distinguish them from "lesser" 3s that sported only two headlights. By the late 1980s, the four-eyed look had become the norm for most BMWs and remains a distinctive marker today.
The most recognizable of all BMW design elements is its distinct logo, known as the Roundel. Seen from a distance, even as a blur, the blue-and-white propellers of the Roundel signal that you're in the presence of greatness. With its colors deriving from the Bavarian flag and the propeller motif symbolizing BMW's origins as a manufacturer of aircraft engines, the Roundel expresses the pride and sense of tradition that go into the design of every BMW.
