Overview
- Frank van Meel says keeping the standard rear doors on the latest M3 and M5 is a deliberate choice, not a packaging shortcut.
- BMW widened the body and flared the rear quarter panels to cover broader axles, creating a visible step where the unchanged rear doors meet the arches.
- Van Meel frames the door–arch discontinuity as a race-inspired cue that lets viewers “see the power” rather than a seamless, smoother treatment.
- BMW now also cites internal research suggesting customers prefer the pronounced look, according to new reporting from BMW Blog.
- Coverage contrasts BMW’s approach with Audi RS models that get bespoke rear doors and notes the M4’s smoother integration, while future M3 styling under the Neue Klasse theme could change the treatment.