There's a strange contradiction happening at the front of modern cars. Engines are getting more efficient, electric vehicles need less cooling than traditional gas-powered cars, and aerodynamics are more important than ever. Yet somehow, the grilles keep getting bigger.
From BMW's enormous kidney grilles to Lexus' increasingly aggressive spindle design and Mercedes' giant illuminated faces, automakers are turning the front of the car into one of its most dramatic features. And while some of that extra real estate serves a purpose, a surprising amount of it is about something else entirely.
