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BMW unveiled the Vision M NEXT at BMW Welt, an event that showcases personal mobility solutions “made by the BMW Group.” The latest technological advances in the fields of design, autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification and services will be showcased here, alongside spectacular world premieres such as that of the BMW Vision M NEXT.
“The BMW Vision M NEXT provides a glimpse into the future of sporty driving,” says Adrian van Hooydonk, senior VP, BMW Group Design. “Where the BMW Vision iNEXT illustrated how autonomous driving is set to transform life on board our vehicles, the BMW Vision M NEXT demonstrates how state-of-the-art technology can also make the experience of driving yourself purer and more emotionally engaging. In both models, the focus is firmly on the people inside. Design and technology make the ‘EASE’ and ‘BOOST’ experiences more natural and more intense.”
The BMW Vision iNEXT and BMW Vision M NEXT Vision vehicles represent prototype versions of BMW’s future experience concepts “EASE” and “BOOST”. EASE encompasses all the experiences during a journey in an autonomous vehicle, and the driver and passengers can feel safe and secure. From rest and relaxation, via talking, interacting and enjoying in-car entertainment, all the way to maximum concentration – the experiences on offer with the EASE concept are as varied as the occupants’ needs. BOOST, meanwhile, stands for the ultimate active driving experience.
The EASE and BOOST concepts act as the building blocks for the BMW Group’s future, comprising the innovation areas of Autonomous driving, Connectivity, Electrification and Services (ACES). The Design lends these areas visual expression and makes the underlying technology something you can engage with (D+ACES).
“The BMW Vision M NEXT is a progressive hybrid sports car that makes a very clear and confident statement, in terms of both appearance and interaction,” says Domagoj Dukec, VP, BMW Design. The stylish exterior design borrows cues from both classic and contemporary BMW sports cars. The BMW Vision M NEXT draws its inspiration from the iconic BMW Turbo and the ground-breaking BMW i8 plug-in hybrid, which it does a futuristic interpretation of, with design elements such as the low-slung, wedge-shaped silhouette, gullwing doors and striking colour scheme and is composed of surfaces characterised by clarity and pared-down styling. The front and rear ends are finished in the matt-neon shade Thrilling Orange, producing a vivid contrast against the exterior’s otherwise silk-matt Cast Silver metallic paintwork. This use of colour blocking, which involves using colours that are opposite on the spectrum, emphasises its inherent dynamism.
The Power PHEV drive system offers the choice between electric all-wheel drive and pure rear-wheel drive, with either all-electric propulsion or the power of a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. System output of 591bhp produces a top speed of 300 km/h, enabling the BMW Vision M NEXT to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just three seconds. There is also a BOOST+ mode that puts extra power on tap at the push of a button. The maximum range when driving in all-electric mode is 100 km – more than enough to complete the majority of journeys purely on electric power. This means the BMW Vision M NEXT is a sports car that would also be suitable for use in city centres where zero-emissions zones may come into force in the future.
The front-end design of the BMW Vision M NEXT is a modern interpretation of classic BMW icons, like the signature BMW kidney grille, which is flanked on either side by triangular elements in Thrilling Orange, which serve to accentuate the air intakes at the sides and the integral headlights.
The soft outer curves of the kidney grille openings are reminiscent of a turbine’s air intake, while the colour gradient used for the inside of the two kidney elements creates a sense of depth. The grille openings are each blanked off by a transparent layer with a laser-etched, illuminated pattern that seems to be floating inside – a highly sophisticated touch that gives added emphasis to this section of the car.
The headlights on the BMW Vision M NEXT are positioned on the outer edges of the front end, higher up than the kidney grille, and are arranged vertically rather than side by side, contrasting with BMW’s classic four-eyed front end. The headlights hand a debut to Laser Wire lighting technology, which uses glass fibres coated with phosphorous to produce headlight elements with a new, super-slim and extremely precise form, yet another nod to the Vision’s future-focused character.
The low-slung, wedge-shaped sports-car silhouette of the BMW Vision M NEXT with the diagonal orange colour slashes against the black side skirts made from recycled carbon fibre make the car seem even lower on the road. The lines of the powerfully contoured shoulders are also used to create the effect of the iconic Hofmeister kink, the low forward bend at the C-pillar, instead of incorporating it into the window graphic in the usual BMW fashion. A gill-like aperture breaks up this design by narrowing it as it sweeps back from the window surface towards the tail, giving the car a more elongated appearance. Simultaneously, the Air Flow, or opening located just in front of the rear wheels carefully channels the onrushing air towards the rear end in a way that not only looks stunning but also improves aerodynamics.
Precisely engineered gaps in the wheels’ intricate, three-dimensional multi-spoke design reduce both weight and aerodynamic drag, and maximise rigidity, optimising the transfer of power to the road. Additionally, the design of the spokes themselves maximises cooling of the large brake discs at the front, while inserts optimise aero efficiency at the rear. The rear wheels on the BMW Vision M NEXT measure 22 inches in diameter, making them one inch larger than the front wheels (21 inches) and further emphasising the car’s wedge-shaped appearance.
The colour scheme of the broad, low-slung rear end divides the car’s sculptural tail into two sections, with the top section in Thrilling Orange creating a visual link between the coloured areas of the flanks, further adding to the impression of width. The area below incorporates an aerodynamically-optimised diffuser. The design of the rear window takes its cue from the BMW M1. The three-piece louvres are made from glass, emphasising the horizontal focus of the rear-end styling.
The taillights feature the same Laser Wire technology from the headlights. Inside each light unit, a single wafer-thin glass fibre produces an abstract ECG trace of a heartbeat fashioned with pin-sharp precision. The two-dimensional reinterpretation of the distinctive pair of BMW roundels from the BMW Turbo and BMW M1 gives them the impression of floating in the rear lights’ transparent lenses.
The BMW Vision M NEXT uses facial recognition to unlock automatically as the driver approaches. Pressing the touch sensor on the gullwing doors prompts them to swing open, revealing a cabin that merges the driver and vehicle into one. The classy, minimalist interior features the functional elements such as the air vents integrated almost out of sight. The seat shells, upholstered in a foam material with memory properties, integrate with the flowing design. The head restraints seem to hover above both seat shells, increasing the sense of lightness.
“The entire interior is focused on the BOOST Pod. The geometry has a deliberately low-key feel so that the driver can concentrate fully on the driving experience,” explains Domagoj Dukec. The BOOST Pod forms the interface between driver and vehicle, bringing together all the control options and information across three distinct visual tiers in the driver’s direct field of view. The first is formed by the horizontally-arranged steering wheel featuring two small displays. Next is a Curved Glass Display, a new addition whose transparent surface stretches around the steering wheel like a visor. Lastly, the full-surface Augmented Reality Head-Up Display in the windscreen constitutes the third plane, keeping everything in the driver’s line of sight, minimising distractions.
The driving settings can be modified on the steering wheel, while information such as revs, road speed, energy management, the driver’s heart rate and availability of BOOST+ mode is spread among a total of five clusters in the Curved Glass Display behind. BOOST+ mode can be engaged at the touch of a button to release extra power. The car alerts the driver when the ideal moment arrives to activate BOOST+.
“In the BMW Vision M NEXT, intelligent technologies help the driver, delivering the right content at the right time. Operation is clear and intuitive, with all information presented in the driver’s direct field of view. This is a deliberate counterpoint to the BMW Vision iNEXT, which focused on a multi-modal operation from every seat,” continues Dukec.
As the vehicle speeds up, the information centres increasingly on driving-related data and moves into the driver’s eye-line. It is possible to communicate with the Intelligent Personal Assistant at all times while driving – if drivers wish to book the visionary Valet Parking Service for their destination, for instance. Here, a concierge is on hand when they arrive to take the vehicle, park it and bring it back again at the desired time. All done simply and seamlessly using the MyBMW App.
“We have designed a modern and luxurious interior with the help of innovative materials. Whereas its geometry is clear and restrained, individual details are showcased like top-class accessories,” says Dukec. The pioneering mix of materials employed in the BMW Vision M NEXT, including woven synthetic fibres, anodised titanium and painted surfaces, has never been seen before in a vehicle in this form. Use of leather has deliberately been kept to a minimum, which is why it only adorns the design details that the driver’s and passenger’s hands touch directly, such as the steering wheel and door pull handles. Instead, the interior is dominated by a Midnight Blue microfibre fabric whose look and feel are akin to leather but still distinctive. Judicious use of Thrilling Orange contrasts injects additional sporting flair.
A particularly striking touch here is the accent line in the driver’s area that runs forwards from the seat over the BOOST Pod, indicating the ideal line of sight over the road. A light element in the BOOST Pod further strengthens this line.
The metallic surfaces in Titanium Bronze have a warm, shimmering tone, adding to the exclusive ambience in the car’s interior. Neat design touches such as the barely visible pockets in the door and centre console allow everyday essentials to remain securely stowed away even when cornering at high speed. The gyroscopic cupholder is able to compensate for strong lateral and longitudinal dynamic forces. A glance upwards reveals both the visible roof structure made from recycled carbon fibre and the headliner, whose tone-in-tone paint finish with mild sheen effect blends in perfectly with the rest of the interior’s colour scheme.
With its enthralling blend of design and driving experience, the BMW Vision M NEXT fuses BMW’s sporting heritage with the possibilities of tomorrow’s world and illustrates how the D+ACES building blocks for the future will be able to enhance how the driver experiences a car’s dynamics.
