BMW files patent for new headlight-integrated grille

BMW has recently filed a patent for an all-new grille design which features integrated headlights, meaning they could grow bigger than they ever have been before.

It seems the German carmaker can’t quite get away from the internet making its kidney grilles their favourite talking point when it comes to some of the brand’s most recent examples.

However, a change to their appearance seems to be on the horizon with Auto Express recently discovering BMW submitted a patent to the World Intellectual Property Organisation for a one-piece grille which integrates the vehicle’s headlights.

The documents illustrate that the grille may have the ability to switch from opaque to transparent, suggesting the headlights will be hidden behind a smooth surface. When a certain setting is changed, the headlights will shine through the material.

As for the grilles themselves, they may in fact be lights instead of actual air intake fins as one diagram shows them switched on and off.

With regard to this, it’s likely they will feature on a fully electric model but as for which one, we do not know.

A strong contender to wear the new front-end could be BMW’s new family of electric vehicles, called Neue Klasse (new class), which the brand plans to launch by 2025.

As always, the news may spark yet more controversy among BMW fans considering models like the new M3 and M4 have received backlash due to their different from the norm-grilles.

There’s also always the possibility we won’t ever see such a grille design as the images have only been patented at this stage. However, it could be a sign of a new look to come.