It's been four years since BMW introduced the all-new, radically-designed 7 Series. The New 5 is coming up on its second anniversary on the US market and the New 6, which debuted around the first of this year, by all accounts, is a very successful niche coupe. The New 3 arrived a few months ago and it's beginning to integrate into the vast landscape of German cars that ride supreme in LA.

To date, just about every automotive journalist has decried the styling direction of BMW and vilified BMW's design chief, Chris Bangle. The most recent reviews of the New 3 seem to all agree that BMW played it "safe" with the styling. Huh? I'll agree with Dan Neil of the LA Times and go on record as saying that the New 3 is quite in line with the "radical" styling direction of its siblings. The door and side panels show the clear flame styling. The rear is definitely just a smaller version of the much-hated 5-Series. And while the automotive journalists seem to love the headlamp styling of the 3, they didn't like the dramatic "eagle eye" look of the 5.

Whether the press likes it or not, the entire BMW lineup has been accepted by its customers. BMW stuck with the New 7 even when there were rampant rumors that BMW was rushing to restyle the trunk area because of all the criticism. The BMW 7 has been face lifted for 2006 -- and I might add that it's quite a handsome new look. However, there was no rush to change the original look and with just a few trim pieces and new tail lights, BMW's flagship sails into the second half of its life with a sleek taught face, with no loss of its "radical" design elements.

I think it's time for the critics to get over themselves and catch up with the style of BMW's customers. We all know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Check out the interior of the new S-Class Mercedes. It's right out of the BMW 7 design book. The new Lexus GS has many of the lines of the BMW, just softened and feminized for Japanese aesthetics.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal published some statistics compiled by Power Information Network, a division of JD Power & Associates. The list compiles the "Hottest Models" for the period July 1 - 31, 2005. These models are the top 12:

The WSJ chose to profile the BMW 7-Series because of its recent styling update for the 2006 model year:

• Most popular color: Black
• Top Model Traded In: BMW 745Li
• Average Down Payment: $24,876
• Average Monthly Payment: $1,271
• APR (based on a 60 month loan): 6.38%
• Buyer Age Range: 16-35 - 15.5%; 36-55 - 59.9%; 56+ 24.6%
• Ratio: Male - 80.3%, Female - 19.7%

The two BMW models with styling most-detested by automotive journalists -- the 7- and 5-Series -- placed pretty well in the hottest selling list. It's also interesting that BMW has loyal customers as the most-traded car is an older 7-Series. And the demographics of purchasers are the highly-coveted males 36-55 - those generally in peak earning years with very high standards.

It's sad, however, to see just how Toyota dominates this list with it hottest selling models -- both at the entry level range with all three Scion models flying off lots and at the top of the range with the all new (BMW-esque) Lexus GS at the top of the range.

I'm happy to see that the "radical" new Infiniti M is also on this list. Infiniti needed to step up with an all-new, terrific product. Infiniti took a chance with the M with its aggressive, masculine styling and spaceship-like, but accessible interior array of luxury and electronic features. It's a hit.

I think BMW blazed the trail for other manufacturers to take the chance with style that may not appeal to everyone. The styling of the car we drive becomes an individualized statement of our own personality.

On this website, we don't want refrigerators that appeal to everyone. You can have your Toyota Camry. The passion of the New BMW 3 or the gorgeous lines of the upcoming Porsche Cayman are welcome changes to the bland. Bentley took a chance with the stunning Continental GT. BMW's Rolls Royce Phantom 1 makes an equally impressive styling statement. Now it seems that it's time for the rest of the automotive industry to take note and follow BMW's lead.