BMW is making a big push to dethrone the S-Class with the car showcased at the recent Beijing Motor Show.
The BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept may carry an elaborate name but a production version of this – whether it’s termed a new 7 Series or a trailblazing 8 or 9 Series – will be an equally elaborate car with its svelte blend of a four-door limo and slim coupe-like styling. The lengthy Beemer debuted at the most suitabl motor show of them all; Beijing, where rear leg room is coveted above all else.
Styling wise, the concept boasts the largest kidney grille you’ll find on any BMW and slim ‘laserlight headlights’ add sharpness to the front end. The taillights are LED and the low roofline, enlarged wheelbase (although no exact dimensions are known at the moment) and oversized wheels are all in keeping with an elaborate concept imagining.
Style meets substance
Mind you, the BMW Vision Future Luxury Concept is not just style without substance. BMW has blended carbon fibre throughout the structure for aesthetic appeal and light weight structural merit. The rear doors open in a stylish ‘suicide’ fashion but rather than lose the B-pillar and important body rigidity, the concept car makes use of clever moulded carbon fibre seat frames.
The interior makes use of radical new user interfaces in which rear passengers can use detachable tablet-type devices to keep track of their trip; like you can on a long haul flight, the speed at which the car’s travelling and trip information, as well as Concierge service details, are displayed. Passengers also enjoy multi-layer interior finishes courtesy of wood, leather, aluminium and finally the carbon fabric layer adding structural merit as mentioned.
BMW hasn’t forgotten the driver in this scenario and there’s a new take on the heads-up display which gives an augmented driver’s view ahead: projecting a wide array of data, overlaying the road itself in a real-world environment, while directing the driver’s attention to important information.
Adrian van Hooydonk of BMW Group design says the Vision Future Luxury Concept explores future design themes for the company, in the hope it’ll add inspiration and motivation for future offerings. If this concept’s impressive build and tech ideas make it into production, we think the Mercedes-Benz S-Class better be on its toes.
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