The Breakdown Frank Stephenson has few positive things to say about the new BMW iX3. The kidney grille is 'too pinched' while the rear is 'a bit generic.' Stephenson worked on the first-generation X5 and the first Mini in the BMW era. The iX3 is a big deal for several reasons. Not only is BMW rolling out its next-generation electric motors and batteries, but also its tenth iteration of iDrive. Hardware and software aside, the first Neue Klasse model in the modern era also ushers in a fresh design language. It’ll spread across nearly the entire lineup in rapid succession, with around 40 models coming by the end of 2027. But someone who used to work for the German luxury brand back in the day isn’t a fan of Munich’s new design direction. Frank Stephenson was involved in the creative process for the first-generation X5 as well as the first Mini Cooper during the BMW era. The Moroccan-born designer is also known for more exotic cars such as the Ferrari F430, Maserati MC12, and a few McLaren models, including the P1. In an interview with Top Gear magazine, Stephenson was brutally honest in his assessment of the new BMW iX3’s design. He argues that the electric crossover lacks “visual fanfare,” calling the fender creases “visually jarring.” Elsewhere, the retro-modern kidneys feature a “new/old beaver-toothed grille graphic” while being “too pinched, almost puckered up.” Nevertheless, the man who worked on the iconic Ford Escort RS Cosworth still thinks it’s an improvement over the excessively large grilles on recent models. It goes on from there. Stephenson isn’t a fan of the front bumper either, claiming the lower intake area is “overly busy” for an EV that doesn’t have the cooling requirements of a vehicle powered by a combustion engine. Moving to the back, the rear is “a bit generic” and lacks the instantly recognizable BMW taillights of the past. Stephenson sums things up by saying, “Nice try, but better luck next time.” Looking back at his older reviews of BMW designs, we’ve noticed a pattern. The talented designer, who also worked on some humble Fiat models, is far from a fan of recent BMWs. In his YouTube series, he once said that “recent designs have lost their way.” In a separate clip published on YouTube, he referred to the XM’s front design as making “no sense at all.” In a different video featuring the 2 Series Coupe, he also rhetorically asked whether BMW “keeps digging a deeper hole,” while other videos roasted the supersized grille. 2026 BMW iX3 Motor1's Take: If you read the comments on social media, BMW designs are undoubtedly controversial. However, the sales figures tell a different story. The opinion-splitting approach has been working in the company’s favor, comfortably finishing ahead of Mercedes and Audi in the luxury sales race. Then again, we’ll never know what those numbers would’ve looked like had BMW taken a less polarizing design approach. The return of Neue Klasse tones things down in favor of smoother, less complicated surfaces. BMW’s decision to restyle its iconic kidney grille and scale it down might lure more people back into showrooms. Overall, there’s less visual drama than before, and we’re anxious to see how the new design language translates to sedans. We won’t have to wait much longer, as the new i3 debuts on March 18. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team