Former BMW designer Frank Stephenson has criticized the appearance of the new electric BMW iX3 crossover. He shared his views in an interview with Top Gear, pointing out several controversial design elements of the model.

Stephenson was involved in developing the first-generation BMW X5 and the new Mini Cooper during the BMW era. He also worked on a number of notable cars, including the Ferrari F430, Maserati MC12, and McLaren P1.

According to him, the new BMW iX3 doesn't make a strong visual impression. The designer feels that the lines on the fenders look too sharp, while the signature kidney grille appears too narrow and "pinched." In his opinion, the front bumper looks overly busy, especially for an electric vehicle that doesn't require a large cooling system.

Stephenson also had issues with the rear of the car. He noted that the tail design seems too plain and lacks the distinctive lighting elements that previously made BMW models easily recognizable. However, he acknowledged that the smaller grille looks better than the excessively large elements on some of the brand's earlier models.

The new iX3 will be BMW's first production model built on the Neue Klasse platform. This architecture will bring new electric motors, batteries, and an updated iDrive system. These solutions are expected to appear on approximately 40 of the brand's models by 2027.