As the shift to autonomy gradually takes place, many enthusiasts are concerned that the thrill of driving might disappear.
But with BMW having the tagline ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’, the German firm is wishing to remain true to that by showcasing its M models will still deliver driving pleasure.
And this Vision M Next concept aims to prove that, with a range of assists that aim to turn anyone into the ‘ultimate driver’.
Unveiled at BMW’s #NEXTGen event, which is the brand’s look at the future, the Vision M Next comes with numerous features that aim to enhance the driving experience.
BMW splits its autonomous and performance models into categories – ‘Ease’ and ‘Boost’. The former is autonomous motoring and aims to transform the car into a “living space”. But ‘Boost’ stands for the ultimate active driving experience.
Perhaps surprisingly, the Vision M Next is a hybrid and draws inspiration from the current BMW i8 sports car, but with an increased focus on performance. That’s because the concept has a total system output of 592bhp, which allows for a 0-60mph time of just three seconds, with a ‘Boost+’ button allowing for more power to be unearthed. The car is even capable of informing the driver when is best for this to be used.
It also has an electric-only range of 62 miles, too, which is almost double that of the current i8.
The signature kidney grille remains, with new stacked headlights using laser technology to light up the road, with an impressive use of recyclable materials to give the concept as light a carbon footprint as possible.
Facial technology unlocks the car, with a new curved touchscreen being a quirky feature. Vehicle settings can be changed on the steering wheel, with the driver’s own heartrate even having its own gauge. The windscreen also transforms into a full augmented driver display – this aims to focus the driver’s attention on the road.
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While some of this concept’s tech and features won’t be seen on a production car anytime soon, a lot of inspiration from it will influence the new i8, which is expected to be unveiled in 2021.
