The styling, while not the best BMW have come up with, seems to be consistent with their current direction. It certainly is not as ugly as the Pontiac Aztec to which the author equates it, IMHO.
I won't hit it with the Aztek stick (nobody deserves that), but I do see a resemblance to the Scion iQ. But .. what's up with that beltline? It's got curves like the Enron stock price.
Agreed about the Scion iQ, but that design isn't terrible. Having watched the BMW's promo video (which shows it in its best light), the car doesn't look out of place on today's roads and appears quite practical for a "typical" suburban lifestyle.