The future of electrification and autonomous driving is a particular challenge for the German premium and driving dynamics brands. BMW now adopts them with a futuristic vision.
BMW wants to save its driving pleasure philosophy into an autonomous and electric driving future. How, the Munich show now with the study Vision M Next. The hybrid sports car largely renounces robot functions and instead puts the human driver in the center. The dynamic wedge design, the 600 PS with three engines and the new cockpit design all add up to curls.
Visually, the future mobile is grounded in the past of the brand. From the classic sports car M1 it takes over the dynamic flat basic shape, the wide rear with the iconic lamellar-reinforced disc, while matte orange accents on the front air intakes and the rear fenders also remind of the BMW Turbo 1972. Without a direct reference to the classics, the front comes to an end, where a broad-drawn kidney with optical depth solves the current giant-nostrils problem of the Munich radiator grill designers. Striking are also the very small, integrated in the air intakes headlights.
The interior is very futuristic. The centerpiece is a new type of unit consisting of a steering wheel, instrument panel and head-up display, called “Boost Pod” by BMW. Behind the valance, which is provided with two small monitors, there is a transparent, curved screen through which one looks at the windshield, into which further information is projected. All three elements should lie in one line of sight and thus allow the driver to concentrate on driving. On the other hand, there is no question of autonomous driving functions - currently in vogue in studies - with the M Next. Even the parking service offered by the networked infotainment system at the destination is booked online, but is then carried out by a human driver.
The sports car is powered by a plug-in hybrid drive with two electric motors and a four-cylinder gasoline engine. One of the electric motors sits on the front and rear axles, the burner also acts on the rear wheels. Depending on the mode of interaction electric rear-wheel drive, electric four-wheel drive or hybrid operation are possible. Up to 600 PS are available, the electric range is specified with 100 kilometers, the acceleration from zero to Tempo 100 takes place in three seconds. It also helps a so-called boost-plus mode, which temporarily provides an additional boost based on the battery data.
With the Vision M Next, BMW wants to show a conceptual counterpart to the Vision iNext. The latter is the study of a designed mainly for comfort and autonomous driving electric SUV, which could go as i5 from 2021 in series. Even the self-propelled M Next will probably find its way into the model range in a modified form, for example as a successor to the hybrid sports car i8.