For a century, BMW has managed to make a name for itself by creating cars that drivers simply love. Indeed, the carmaker's vehicles were so warmly received, BMW cars eventually garnered the moniker as the "ultimate driving machine."
Maybe it's passion for the industry; maybe it's an uncompromising stance on quality; or maybe, it is because the German carmaker was never one to shy away from the prospects of the future.
Kicking off its Centenary World Tour in the Munich Olympic Hall, BMW announced something very significant, introducing a vehicle that the company believes is the future of driving technology. Dubbed the BMW Vision Next 100, the concept is indeed every bit as insane and awe-inspiring as its name.
While the concept does contain unmistakable cues that the car is from the German carmaker, everything about the car, from its 4-D-printed exterior to its augmented reality display, speaks of the future.
What makes the Vision Next 100 is something that truly made BMW the carmaker that it is today. Regardless of how advanced the vehicle is, it is still, at its core, the "ultimate driving machine."
The smartcar is designed to have two modes, a "Boost" mode, which involves the driver taking control of the car manually, aided by an optimal driving line on the car's windshield. Another mode, called "Ease" mode, allows the car to become fully autonomous, even allowing the driver to face the other passengers in the car, for that all-important chat, of course.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the concept vehicle, however, is the "Companion," a full-on digital assistant that is designed to learn the driving habits of the driver. When the driver selects the "Ease" mode, the Companion takes over, fully taking care of the vehicle's operation.
Of course, some of the technology required to mass produce the vehicle is still under development. Regardless, BMW believes that the Vision Next 100 serves as a symbol to what the next generation of mobility has to offer.
So when could car lovers sample the Vision Next 100? BMW Chief Executive Harald Krüger stated that it would probably be ready in the next 20 to 30 years, though the CEO fondly said that if it were up to him, the Vision Next 100 would be rolled out "tomorrow."
