BMW is applying for a patent for a grille integrated into the headlights.
BMW has filed a patent application for a grille that includes headlights and other lighting elements, Auto Express reported Monday, citing information found in patent documents.
The documents filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization show a design that incorporates sensors for headlights and driver assistance features in BMW's signature twin kidney grille, according to the report. Drawings attached to the patent application show how the conventional headlight and grille shapes are fused into a continuous section.
The documents also describe "photoconductive technology" that allows the material covering the grille to switch from opaque to transparent, giving the front mask a smooth appearance when the headlights are off. Parts of the grille become transparent when the headlights are needed, allowing light to shine through the material.
The drawing shows several possibilities for how the grille surface could be used for lighting. 'Off' indicates no illumination, 'On 1' shows a slim daytime running light-like shape in a conventional position in the corner of the front fascia, and 'On 2' shows an illuminated element that mimics a vertical grille slat.
The lighting elements could even be used to project a digital version of BMW's twin kidney grilles onto a grille-less front fascia, the report theorizes, noting that EVs do not need large grille openings. from 2025 for BMW, plans to launch a next-generation family of EVs called "Neue Klassen" (German for "new class") based on a dedicated platform, but expects half of the vehicles it sells worldwide by 2030 will still have tailpipes.
Large grilles, such as on the XM SUV and the current 4 Series, have become a hallmark of BMW styling in recent years. Illuminated grilles have also been introduced on some models. So while critics of the new styling direction may resent it, it seems like the next logical step. However, as with all patents, there is no guarantee that this design will reach production.
