Blinged-out bumpers: Top five garish grilles of Paris 2024

Perpetuating a craze of growing grilles, these five Chinese newcomers are the basking sharks of the automotive world. Are they opulent or ostentatious? You decide.

Remember when BMW’s G70 7 series stuck its head above the parapetand the world’s press recoiled at the size of its swollen kidney grilles? Well, nobody would have batted an eye if that same design had premiered at the 2024 Paris Motor Show.

Taking oversized intakes to a whole new level, China’s most prominent automakers showed up with some truly imposing faces this year. From chromed colossi to LED-lined leviathans, get ready to gawp at these five gigantic grilles.

5. Forthing V9

First up, Forthing with its flagship U-Tour V9 MPV. Available in both ICE and PHEV guises, this practical seven-seater boasts a surprisingly luxurious ‘aviation-grade’ interior. Plus, with multi-link rear suspension and around 300 bhp in plug-in form, the V9 should offer more driving thrills than you’d expect from a bulky people pusher.

As for the elephant in the room, well there’s no escaping that ‘China Knot’-inspired grille. Presumably designed to mimic the cascading effect of a waterfall, in reality, some might say it looks more like the Forthing has been sat too close to the fire.

4. Hongqi Guoya

From its beautifully-appointed cabin to its 480-bhp turbocharged V8 engine, Hongqi’s 5.3-metre long Guoya has many redeeming qualities — but, for us, that massive mouth isn’t one of them.

Clearly mimicking Bentley’s latest Flying Spur — itself, subject to styling criticism — the Gouya certainly caught the attention of the crowds at the Paris Motor Show. It’s undeniably eye-catching and should cater to the preferences of its native market — where a large front facia is often viewed as a status symbol. Should the Guoya come to the UK, though, we’re not sure that chrome nose would translate well.

3. Yangwang U8

Compared to some of the garish items on this list, the Yangwang U8’s grille is practically subtle. Nonetheless, we’re struggling to unsee its likeness to a beekeeper’s protective helmet. Add the strangely shaped LED headlights, and the U8’s frontal design turns heads for all the wrong reasons.

But, if you can overlook the styling, the U8 is a seriously impressive luxury SUV. Marketed as the premium arm of BYD, Yangwang’s flagship off-roader boasts an insane 1180 bhp, a sub-four second 0-60 mph sprint, and even the ability to float for up to 30 minutes in any body water.

2. Hongqi EHS9

Much like its Guoya sibling, the EHS9’s grille is sure to divide opinion. Bearing a striking resemblance to a standard British household radiator, this Hongqi’s mouth is worsened by its sharp rectangular frame and upright angle. We can’t imagine this design does many favours for the SUV’s aerodynamics or pedestrian impact protection, either.

But, as always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And the good news is, if you’re a fan of the EHS9’s look, you’ll be able to bag a 544-bhp, 320-mile, all-electric off-roader, for much less than its legacy rivals. If it makes it to the UK, that is.

1. GAC E9 PHEV

And the award for the most gawping grille goes to… the GAC E9 PHEV. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t even close. In fact, we’ve seen satirical grille renders that were less striking than this actual production model. Still, if grille surface area is one of your main criteria when buying a new vehicle, this GAC’s the machine for you.

Plus, given it incorporates a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, those mammoth proportions should at least have some functional cooling benefit. As for the rest of the car, well the E9 promises to be a spacious and efficient MPV with plenty of standard tech to boot — there’s even a 12-speaker sound system tuned by Yamaha.

Could you live with any of these garish grilles, or do you wish this automotive styling trend would disappear. We’d like to know what the future of front ends looks like to you.