BMW celebrated the 100th anniversary of its 1st ever factory and how!
It unveiled the Vision Next 100, a car conceived to anticipate future mobility needs a century after the German car maker was originally established as the Bavarian Motor Works. While unveiling the car, BMW chairman, Harald Kruger, said that this was the first of a series of four similarly-themed concept cars under construction and planned to be unveiled during its centennial year.
The latest concept car provides an insight into the German car maker’s vision of autonomous driving and how it proposes to integrate it with the traditional manual driving that epitomises BMW cars with the driver at the centre. It showcases new construction and design techniques, as well as digital based interaction methods and autonomous driving technology that is already under development for inclusion on future BMW models.
In anticipation of a shift away from conventional steel structures and the associated assembly process used today, the body uses a combination of carbon fibre and plastic. Many elements are made of residues collected during the production of other carbon fibre structures. For those who are not technically-inclined, Carbon fibre is the short form for Carbon-fiber–reinforced polymer, an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastic which contains carbon fibers.
The ultra-modern design provides a hint of things to come especially visual ties to the i brand lineup. The surfacing treatment points to the influence of design boss, Adrian von Hooydonk, and is similar to that of the i8. It also ties it to some elements that are intricately linked to BMW cars like the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink. With flexible bodywork covering the wheels, allowing them to turn without interruption, a process called Alive Geometry by BMW design given the Vision Next concept an unbelievable drag co-efficient of 0.18! With a length of 4900 mm and height of 1370 mm, the Vision Next 100 is 10 mm shorter and 100 mm lower than the existing 5 Series.
Continuing the theme of keeping the driver at the centre, access to the inside is via wing-style doors that open automatically as the driver approaches with a smart key. The steering wheel retracts and sits next to the dashboard when the Vision Next 100 is parked so that there is ease of entry. The interior also uses more sustainable materials, including recyclable mono-materials, instead of wood and leather.
BMW vision of driving modes are two: manual and autonomous.
Boost is the manual mode where the seat and steering wheel change position and the centre console turns towards the driver. As per BMW, the driver also gets a so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI) Companion that provides the driver with a host of support when required, such as proposing the best possible turn in points for a particular corner, advising on traffic jams or warning when a speed limit is exceeded. The Companion gathers information about the person at the wheel during a drive.
Ease is the autonomous mode where the Vision Next becomes a place to unwind: the seat, steering wheel and centre console self-adjust to provide extra space, and ambient lighting is used to create a more relaxing atmosphere while the autonomous driving technology takes you to your destination.
Alive Geometry is also used inside the cabin and consists of some 800 moving triangles set into the instrument panel and side panels. BMW says that the aim of Alive Geometry is to enhance the interaction between the car and the driver by communicating information with intuitive signals to deliver “a form of pre-conscious communication that predicts an imminent real-time event”.
https://www.facebook.com/SputnikNews/videos/10153882606676181/?pnref=story
This may sound like science fiction today but BMW is convinced that manufacturing methods will become sophisticated and in the future it will be feasable to produce more complex & flexible forms. Transformers 4 anyone?
It unveiled the Vision Next 100, a car conceived to anticipate future mobility needs a century after the German car maker was originally established as the Bavarian Motor Works. While unveiling the car, BMW chairman, Harald Kruger, said that this was the first of a series of four similarly-themed concept cars under construction and planned to be unveiled during its centennial year.
The latest concept car provides an insight into the German car maker’s vision of autonomous driving and how it proposes to integrate it with the traditional manual driving that epitomises BMW cars with the driver at the centre. It showcases new construction and design techniques, as well as digital based interaction methods and autonomous driving technology that is already under development for inclusion on future BMW models.
In anticipation of a shift away from conventional steel structures and the associated assembly process used today, the body uses a combination of carbon fibre and plastic. Many elements are made of residues collected during the production of other carbon fibre structures. For those who are not technically-inclined, Carbon fibre is the short form for Carbon-fiber–reinforced polymer, an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastic which contains carbon fibers.
The ultra-modern design provides a hint of things to come especially visual ties to the i brand lineup. The surfacing treatment points to the influence of design boss, Adrian von Hooydonk, and is similar to that of the i8. It also ties it to some elements that are intricately linked to BMW cars like the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink. With flexible bodywork covering the wheels, allowing them to turn without interruption, a process called Alive Geometry by BMW design given the Vision Next concept an unbelievable drag co-efficient of 0.18! With a length of 4900 mm and height of 1370 mm, the Vision Next 100 is 10 mm shorter and 100 mm lower than the existing 5 Series.
Continuing the theme of keeping the driver at the centre, access to the inside is via wing-style doors that open automatically as the driver approaches with a smart key. The steering wheel retracts and sits next to the dashboard when the Vision Next 100 is parked so that there is ease of entry. The interior also uses more sustainable materials, including recyclable mono-materials, instead of wood and leather.
BMW vision of driving modes are two: manual and autonomous.
Boost is the manual mode where the seat and steering wheel change position and the centre console turns towards the driver. As per BMW, the driver also gets a so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI) Companion that provides the driver with a host of support when required, such as proposing the best possible turn in points for a particular corner, advising on traffic jams or warning when a speed limit is exceeded. The Companion gathers information about the person at the wheel during a drive.
Ease is the autonomous mode where the Vision Next becomes a place to unwind: the seat, steering wheel and centre console self-adjust to provide extra space, and ambient lighting is used to create a more relaxing atmosphere while the autonomous driving technology takes you to your destination.
Alive Geometry is also used inside the cabin and consists of some 800 moving triangles set into the instrument panel and side panels. BMW says that the aim of Alive Geometry is to enhance the interaction between the car and the driver by communicating information with intuitive signals to deliver “a form of pre-conscious communication that predicts an imminent real-time event”.
https://www.facebook.com/SputnikNews/videos/10153882606676181/?pnref=story
This may sound like science fiction today but BMW is convinced that manufacturing methods will become sophisticated and in the future it will be feasable to produce more complex & flexible forms. Transformers 4 anyone?
2 comments:
HI, that was a very good read. Do check Amit's blog http://www.labnol.org/internet/google-docs-email-form/20884/
Thanks Xavier
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