Concept cars are always a little out there, after all, that is kind of the point of them. However, BMW’s latest offering to mark its 100th year in the motoring industry is definitely very ambitious. The BMW Vision Next 100 project is based on the idea that in the near-future cars will not need drivers and instead supercomputers will be in charge.
Drivers, or rather passengers, will be able to take advantage of a special ease setting, that will allow the steering wheel to move out the way and swivel the front seat around. This will help commuters to focus on an important work document or play Candy Crush rather than have to deal with the mundane drive to the office.
Of course, there will still be the option to take control of the wheel using a so-called boost mode, but the experience will be very different to today’s journeys. BMW believe augmented-reality will feature heavily, with an ideal steering line and preferred speed visible on the windscreen at all times.
In addition, any potential hazards will be highlighted in the same way. For example, if a cyclist is hidden by a lorry ahead, the car will still be aware of their presence and will project an image on the windscreen to make the driver alert to a potential hazard in the road.
BMW’s futuristic car also claims to offer shape-shifting technology, with special “scales” unfolding to warn of upcoming issues, as well as the ability to automatically detect when an owner approaches the vehicle – causing the doors (or wings) to immediately open.
“If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something, there’s a good chance it could one day become reality,” said BMW’s design chief Adrian van Hooydonk.
“So our objective with the BMW Vision Next 100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.”
What do you think? Is this really the car of the future?
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