4 Minutes
BMW's design reset meets CGI imagination
BMW has signaled a deliberate design pivot: passenger cars remain core to the brand while the era of exaggerated, attention-seeking styling appears to be winding down. As the Neue Klasse design language takes shape under Oliver Heilmer, the company is promising a subtler, more coherent aesthetic across sedans, crossovers, and SUVs — a theme that’s already inspiring both real-world prototypes and vivid digital concepts.
Enter Giorgi Tedoradze, a Georgia-based industrial designer and CGI artist, who has reimagined a full-size BMW X9 M flagship crossover SUV. His latest render places the hypothetical X9 M in front of an opulent, CGI mansion — a fitting backdrop for a vehicle aimed at status-driven buyers in CUV-loving markets like North America.
Design: restrained but authoritative
The concept leans into the promised "more subtle" approach. Gone are the extreme proportions and split headlights; this X9 M shows a balanced kidney grille, slim conventional LED headlights, and a three-dimensional front bumper with a prominent central intake. Vertical slim LEDs in the lower fascia hint at daytime running lights or fog lamp units, adding a modern touch without theatrics.
From the side, the profile is clean and purposeful: a gently rising shoulder line, large dual-tone concave alloy wheels, and taut surfaces that suggest luxury without overstatement. The rear keeps the theme simple — a broad roof spoiler, winged LED taillights, and a black bumper with an integrated diffuser. One playful detail: vertically stacked twin exhausts at each corner, a nod to performance-car drama while keeping the overall look refined.
Highlights:
- Balanced, Neue Klasse-inspired design language
- Slim LED lighting and conventional kidney grille
- Large dual-tone alloy wheels and subtle shoulder line
- Distinctive vertically stacked quad exhaust tips
Powertrain possibilities and market positioning
Although purely speculative, the CGI X9 M would likely offer multiple powertrain options if BMW ever pursued a production variant. Expect a range spanning mild-hybrid petrol and high-performance plug-in hybrid setups, especially for the M-badged iterations. A diesel seems increasingly unlikely for a flagship targeted at the U.S. luxury market, where diesels have waned in popularity outside of heavy-duty applications.
Market positioning for an X9-sized crossover would be clear: a full-size, luxury flagship aimed at buyers who want SUV presence combined with BMW performance and technology. It would compete with other large luxury crossovers from Germany and the U.S., bridging the gap between coupe-style SUVs and traditional three-row behemoths.
Why CGI concepts matter
Digital renderings like Tedoradze’s do more than entertain; they preview how brand ethos, design shifts, and market demands might be reconciled. As BMW refines its Neue Klasse DNA, these CGI visions provide a public testing ground for proportions, lighting treatments, and how much visual restraint buyers are willing to accept.
Quote: "A subtler BMW doesn’t mean less character — it means better proportion and clearer identity," an industry designer recently told us, echoing the sentiment behind these renders.
Whether the X9 M ever becomes more than a CGI exercise, the images underscore an important trend: BMW appears ready to unify its design language and dial back polarizing elements in favor of cohesive, premium clarity. For enthusiasts, that’s news worth watching — and for competitors, a reminder that the luxury SUV battleground keeps evolving.
Source: autoevolution
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