Seeing some talk about grilles I thought I’d post something kinda fun or funny or whatever! What can I say, I was bored!

 

That is quite funny, but, sadly (to me), it is also too true.

BMW seemed, for years, to be one of the last hold outs with regard to moving toward larger grilles. I had always thought that the relatively small kidney grilles on the various BMW models looked quite classy. Now, they seem, too, to have moved toward having the ugly large grilles.

Then, you have the new Lexus LX. I can't imagine who decided that its grille looks good.

At the other extreme, there are all of the EVs that have no grille at all. That doesn't look right to me either.

Perhaps, I'm just too old now to be willing to accept these changes.

 

I remember when Lexus changed their grilles to the very large ones that exist today. Many on this forum were outraged and swore that they would never buy one. However, Lexus pledged that the monster grilles were here to stay regardless and here we are today. My '19 has one and I have to say that as much as I liked the two part '13 grille, the '19 has grown on me.
For the Bimmers, I too liked the small two piece side by side grille that epitomized BMW. Alas, change comes and they too now have monster grilles. I'm wondering if it's more than simply design and is functional for air flow. I know my 2019 is good at storing leaves behind the grille...

 

What always goes unreported on this is that the stylists aren't to blame.

There are pedestrian impact regulations now decreeing that cars have to have a big, blunt, soft nose. If it wasn't disguised by a giant grille, it would just be a flat piece of plastic and even more unsightly. It's similar to the tall, slab sides that cars must have now to survive getting T-boned by an SUV's bumper. They've forced stylists to relieve the giant, flat planes with the now-infamous "flame surfacing" indentations and the giant wheelwells filled by giant wheels (which ruin ride quality, but without them the cars would look as under-tired as golf carts.)

Stylists didn't all have their talent shot off in the war. Their hands are tied by these practical considerations, and aero requirements for gas mileage, and more.

 

I honestly like the grill on my ES. Not to try and change the subject, but I rather argue about the headstone entertainment screens.

 

I agree at this point, but initially hated it. This is probably typical of such dramatic design changes but it didn’t take long for my opinion to change. I’m afraid I still need more time to adjust to the new LX grill…

 

I've always said I've always loved the spindle grill, day one. I was not one of the "it grew on me" crowd. The bigger and bolder, the better. I want it in your face.

As for BMW, I've always said this too: BMW stuck themselves with the kidney design as their signature style going back decades. It's hard to make large kidneys look good. There's the little notch in the middle and kidneys just don't look good big.

But I think with EVs coming, they can shed off some of that weirdness and the kidneys will shrink again to something reasonable. The openings don't have to be as large and the company can have a consistent grill across the lineups.

As for Lexus's spindle evolution blending with the front of the car (new RX)... not a fan. I think it looks unfinished. hopefully it looks good for the 8ES..

 

How about that LX grill - is that for real? Looks like the ladder I used to use to clean my gutters

 

it’s only a slight exaggeration.

 

A little change of subject but still about grilles. Are the grilles of all 2022 ES350's interchangeable?

We ordered a 2022 ES350 Ultra Luxury but Really like the F-Sport and I wondered if the F-Sport grille would work in the UL.

Any info would be Appreciated and Thanks in advance!

 

Ha that's hysterical!

 

Search the forum there have been posts on this and some owners have done it but probably not so simple.

 

Thanks! I Appreciate it.