BMW has unveiled a radical shapeshifting car it says can switch between high-performance driving and letting the car take control.
The company unveiled the Vision Next 100 at ceremonies Monday for the company’s 100th birthday at Munich’s Olympic Hall.
The car offers a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled operations, with a retractable steering wheel and seats that swivel.
Scroll down for video
In driver mode, the car indicates the ideal driving line and speed; in ‘ease’ or autonomous mode, the steering wheel retracts and the driver and front-seat passenger can turn to face each other.
Concept cars suggest what future production models might look like.
Auto executives said last week at the Geneva International Motor Show that some elements of autonomous driving could begin being introduced around the end of this decade.
‘If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something, there’s a good chance it could one day become reality,’ said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design.
‘So our objective with the Next 100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.’
‘At the BMW Group, we are always on a quest for the best solution. It’s part of our DNA,’ said Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, at the Centenary Event in Munich on Monday.
‘It’s also the spirit of our collaborations, a recurring theme that permeates our corporate and leadership culture.’
‘We have demonstrated on many occasions throughout our history that we are capable of learning fast and taking bold steps,’ Krüger said.
‘Premium mobility by the BMW Group will be completely effortless, comprehensively available and tailored to every customer’s individual preferences,’ the firm said.
‘At the moment, the world is on the verge of realising automated driving; in the not-too-distant future the majority of cars will probably be completely self-driving and travel the streets of cities inhabited by far more people than today.’
‘Future mobility will connect every area of people’s lives. And that’s where we see new opportunities for premium mobility,’ Krüger added.
Ther Next 100 vehicle combines coupé-type sportiness with the dynamic elegance of a sedan – but rather than being an anonymous transport machine, it is a highly customised vehicle that is perfectly tailored to suit the driver’s changing needs.
Video: BMW showcase what they think cars will look like in 100 years
Driver-vehicle interactions are managed by Alive Geometry; Boost and Ease modes offer a choice of driver-controlled or vehicle-controlled operations, and the interior of the vehicle changes to suit the mode of travel.
In Boost, the entire vehicle focuses on the driver, offering the support needed to maximise the driving experience – for instance by indicating the ideal driving line, steering point and speed.
Ease mode sees the interior transform: the steering wheel and centre console retract; the headrests turn to the side, and the seats and door trim merge to form a single unit so that the driver and front-seat passenger can turn towards each other.
Share or comment on this article: BMW shows off concept car for the self-driving future.
