The German Fascination with Bling and Chrome - Automobile
But it’s not just BMW’s big luxury car going down this avenue. The M3 performance sedan gets a minor face-lift for 2016, including some extra chrome trim inside. I thought the illuminated “M” badges in the seatbacks were already over the top. Next thing you know, they’ll start shining a silhouette of the Roundel badge on the ground next to their cars. Recently, I considered a BMW X5 for my wife, but when I started playing around with the options and packages on the configurator, I discovered that upgrading from the base 18-inch wheels to the better proportioned 19-inch wheels requires a choice... If you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair … why don't you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair. ” BMW isn’t the only German company offering Mr. T-style jewelry. Every journalist’s favorite car, the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S-Model 4Matic Wagon , needs to be ordered very carefully unless you want to blind your friends and neighbors. Without options, the mega-fast grocery getter is plastered with shiny pieces throughout. Fortunately, you can pay $750 for the AMG Night Styling Package, changing all these details from unneeded brightwork to subtle black trim. I wish I knew what has motivated this transformation from classy and restrained German styling -- which, way back when, was considered dark and “Teutonic” -- to “hey, look at me” kitsch. Source: www.automobilemag.com
