2016 sees the BMW Group celebrate its centenary under the motto “The Next 100 Years”. Throughout its history, the company’s image has been defined by a future focus and pioneering action – all made possible by its team of employees who share a fascination for mobility which is integral to all our lives. (Take a ride down memory lane with the first five generations of the 5 Series.)
Against this background, the BMW Group’s centenary celebrations are set to focus primarily on what lies ahead and explore how individual mobility might develop over the coming decades. The organisation’s vision is premium mobility that will be completely effortless, comprehensively available and customised to every customer. The world is on the verge of realising automated driving, and in the not-too-distant future, the majority of cars might be completely self-driving and travel the streets of cities inhabited by far more people than today.
Looking into the crystal ball is the BMW Vision Next 100. It combines coupé-type sportiness with the dynamic elegance of a saloon, and it’s a highly customisable vehicle perfectly tailored to suit the driver’s changing needs. (Click here for our review of BMW’s most futuristic coupe, the i8.)
Driver-vehicle interactions are managed by Alive Geometry; Boost and Ease modes offer a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled operations; and the interior of the vehicle morphs to suit the mode of travel.
In Boost mode, the entire vehicle focuses on the driver, offering the support needed to maximise the driving experience – for instance, by indicating the ideal driving line, steering point and speed. In Ease mode, the interior is transformed – the steering wheel and centre console retract, the headrests turn to the side, and the seats and door trim merge to form a single unit so that the driver and front-seat passenger can turn towards each other.
The Vision Next 100 made its world debut at a special BMW event in the Munich Olympic Hall on 7 March 2016 – exactly one hundred years after the company now known as BMW AG was first entered into the commercial register.
BMW has its eye on the future of mobility.
The cutting-edge concept car will go on a symbolic world tour entitled “Iconic Impulses”, stopping in China, the UK and the USA. After its Asian premiere in Beijing, it will travel to London, where the Vision Vehicles of the BMW Group’s British brands – MINI and Rolls-Royce – will be unveiled.
