BMW - Kidney Grille as Headlights

The BMW kidney grille is growing and growing – and has reached enormous proportions with the current 7 Series and the XM. Now a patent application from Munich suggests that the car manufacturer, as part of electrification, no longer wants to use the characteristic design element as a ventilation opening, but as a headlight surface.

So far, the current upper-class models 7 Series and XM can be ordered with an illuminated kidney grille as an equipment variant. Those who check "Iconic Glow Kidney" in the equipment list for the X6 can also illuminate the kidney grille on the coupe-SUV.

Illuminated kidney grille is already a lighting element

According to Paragraph 49a of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), only prescribed and declared permissible lighting equipment may be fitted to the vehicle. BMW has creatively interpreted this paragraph.

"In the X6, we homologated the left part of the kidney grille as part of the left headlight, and the right part as part of the right headlight," explained a BMW spokeswoman. "This is possible with this model because the headlights and the kidney grille are positioned close enough to each other."

Projection Surface and Headlights

Since electric cars can dispense with large air vents, a black panel at the front could then fulfill multiple functions. The light signature itself could consist of vertical struts, imitating a digital version of the grille while simultaneously illuminating the road.