Editors' Picks -- 7 days ago
Words: Charlie Thomas
If there’s one car manufacturer that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of technology and showing us what the future holds, on four wheels, then that has to be BMW. Their current line up of cars wouldn’t look out of place in Silicon Valley, with ‘intelligent stereo camera’ this and ‘Servotronic’ that. The Vision Future Luxury concept car though, takes things to a whole new level.
Revealed at this year’s Beijing Motor Show, the Vision future is essentially a sneak peak at the direction BMW is taking, in both a technological and aesthetical sense. Looks wise it’s undeniably striking and has the potential to turn some people off, given that it’s somewhat of a departure from what we might associate with typical BMW styling. The front end is familiar though, with the oversized kidney grilles dominating proceedings and the squinty laser headlights lending an aggressive edge to its face. The rear of the car is where opinions are likely to really divide but it’s refreshing to see the German marque push the boat out, and if similar clean, flowing lines make it onto future BMWs, then that’s really nothing to complain about.
Constructed of both aluminium and carbon fibre, the body is made in a way that’s just as innovative as it looks, saving weight and improving performance in the process. Inside is where the car truly shines though. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the hyper-futuristic head up display that projects real-time information onto the driver’s field of vision. Primarily designed to improve safety, those behind the wheel will be informed of when traffic lights will turn green, location-based speed limit restrictions and even potential hazards before they occur. The front passenger will be connected too, with a display that’s linked to the driver’s via hand gestures and swiping motions, so the two can interact. There’s also two large multi-media tablets built into the headrests, making school runs that much more exciting for the kids.
All of this points towards the inevitable direction of something the automotive industry has been flirting with for quite some time; the notion of the smart car. Whether this adds to or takes away from the driving experience will remain to be seen though.
For more information, visit BMW
By Charlie Thomas
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