On April 24, on the eve of the Beijing Auto Show, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse concept, the BMW i Vision Circular concept, the new BMW i4 and the production version of the MINI Aceman, and the all-new MINI Cooper were unveiled at the BMW Night event. The BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept combines BMW's core innovations in the fields of electrification, digitalization and circular sustainability, and will be launched in the global market next year, with production in Shenyang in 2026 and six models in the next 24 months.
According to the BMW Group, the BMW Group has delivered more than 1 million pure electric vehicles worldwide, with nearly 22 million connected driving cars worldwide and more than 7 million with remote upgrade capabilities. In 2024, the BMW Group will present more than 20 new BMW and MINI products.
BMW's next-generation models will start the next generation of its product lineup, with electric vehicles accounting for more than 50% of sales by 2030 and production of the next-generation models starting in Shenyang in 2026. In the future, BMW's products will have more driving pleasure, more digital experience, and more sustainable applications, focusing on electrification, digitalization, and sustainable development.
The second concept model of BMW's next-generation model is the VISION Neue Klasse X. Over the next 24 months, six new-generation models will be launched on the market. For the first time, the new generation will use sixth-generation battery technology, which will increase the range by 30 percent and increase the charging speed by 30 percent. Shenyang will be one of the first production bases to put into production of the sixth generation of power batteries, with an investment of 10 billion yuan.
In the future, BMW's new-generation models will keep the driver's hands on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road, and the BMW panoramic vision bridge will be the most representative interior element. The BMW iDrive system will redefine the human-machine interface, and the BMW cars of the future will benefit from both petrol and electric vehicles. In the research and development of UI and UX, it is directly integrated into the unique needs and habits of Chinese consumers, and intuitively reflected in the car machine.
●宝马Vision New Class概念车
The BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept, the BMW Next-Generation Concept, is a preview of BMW's future product line-up in both sedan and SUV series, along with the BMW Next-Generation X Concept that was launched recently, and both concepts are mid-sized. The new design language and many innovative technologies of the concept car will be applied to all BMW product ranges in the future.
The new generation of vehicles will feature three major features: 1) a newly developed E/E architecture with a new user interface and human-machine interaction concept, 2) a newly developed electric drive and battery system with high performance and significant efficiency improvements, and 3) a new level of cyclical sustainability throughout the product life cycle.
The exterior of BMW's new-generation concept car is very recognizable to the brand, and it is quite similar to the "new generation" models of the 60s of the last century, with a distinctive BMW iconic kidney grille, classic "Huo-style corners" and other elements, paying tribute to the classics and facing the future. The entire front end of the car extends the visual width and reinforces the character of a sporty sedan, while the headlight combination is integrated into the huge kidney shape, creating a sense of mystery and depth in the progressive design effect.
The C-pillar design on the side of the concept car reinterprets the classic "Hofmeister corner", emphasizing the car's sportiness and improving visibility from the rear. The design of the taillights echoes the headlights, and BMW's famous "L" shape is faintly visible, and has the same depth as the headlights.
Other highlights worth mentioning include the addition of interactive features to the grille and headlights, as well as the taillights, which also have dynamic effects that trigger precise 3D animated lighting effects when a person approaches the vehicle. The E Ink element in the lower part of the side window is another feature of the welcoming scene outside, directing the eye to the sensor area where the doors open automatically. The doors are automatically opened by induction, maximizing the convenience and necessary sense of technology for the user. Similar innovations are used in the taillights, where the 3D-printed light elements are controlled in a unique way to create a layered lighting effect.
The three major features of the interior part, the first is simplicity, which minimizes the number of buttons, the second is digitalization, which maximizes the integration of convenient technological configuration into the car, and finally environmental protection, most of the materials in the car are environmentally friendly materials. It is worth paying attention to the intelligent part of the technology, which also represents the design concept of the new generation iDrive, and will also be equipped with a new multi-function steering wheel.
With the "driver-oriented" design concept, the BMW Panoramic Vision Bridge will be the first to be installed on the new generation of models to replace the traditional instrument cluster. The BMW panoramic sight bridge allows the content to be projected into the driver's line of sight and, for the first time, covers the entire width of the windscreen. With a simple gesture, the driver can move the content on the center display to the BMW Bridge of Panoramic View, which can also be customised by the touch buttons on the steering wheel and the center display. The next-generation BMW iDrive operating system integrates driving experience and infotainment data with relevant data from the vehicle's E/E system and the BMW Cloud.
For the first time, the vehicle's central display features a more innovative irregular shape and is optimised for the driver's line of sight, ensuring that the screen presents the optimum view to the driver and keeps the "eye forward". At the same time, the distance from the steering wheel to the display is minimized to make touch operation easier. For the first time, the new multi-function steering wheel also features innovative hardware technology called "Active Haptic Feedback", which allows the driver to control the display of the BMW 3D head-up display system and the panoramic sight bridge through the interactive area on the multi-function steering wheel. At the same time, BMW's intelligent personal assistant continues to improve and provide voice control functions to enhance the user experience.
The all-electric platform of BMW's next-generation concept car family maximizes cabin space and uses fabrics in warm colors to create a comfortable atmosphere. The light-colored instrument panel supports the top and bottom flat steering wheels, as well as a parallelogram central display with matrix backlights. On the center console there is a smartphone charging dock and crystal-textured gear lever. The front seats are attached to the floor by a bracket, freeing up more legroom for the rear compartment, and passengers can enjoy the ample space created by the two seats. The interior design completely eliminates decorative chrome or leather, helping to reduce carbon emissions in the production process.
In terms of driver assistance, the next-generation models will be equipped with a new generation of autonomous driving assistance technology, and BMW's China R&D team is actively carrying out localized research and development of L2+ and L3 autonomous driving, so as to fully prepare for adaptation and application in China. BMW's Level 3 autonomous vehicles have also officially obtained the domestic high-speed road test license.
In terms of power, the new-generation model will be built with a new architecture called NCAR (New Cluster Architecture) instead of the current CLAR and FAAR architectures. The voltage platform for batteries, powertrains and charging technology will be increased to 800 volts, reducing the charging time of the battery from 10-80% by 30%, and replenishing 300 kilometers in 10 minutes. At the same time, the sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology will use cylindrical battery cells, which will increase energy density by more than 20%, vehicle efficiency by 25%, and cruising range by 30%. In terms of production, the BMW Group has actively promoted the sixth-generation power battery project and the upgrading of the existing plant area of the Shenyang production base, with a total investment of 10 billion yuan, and its main building has been completed.
● BMW i Vision Circular概念车
The BMW i Vision Circular made its world premiere at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, making its debut in China for the first time. Manufactured from 100% recycled and renewable raw materials and 100% recyclable, BMW hopes to convey the four guiding principles of "rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle" based on the circular economy, and propose a new way of thinking for the company's future route and the direction of the automotive industry.
The BMW i-Cycle Concept has a radical design style, with the iconic kidney grille being extended horizontally, and although it uses a closed design, the surface is digitally animmed, and the thick strip of light clusters is additionally separated, which can be said to be an update of the classic design language. At the same time, the design of the front bumper is very simple, with a concave front design, and the classic blue sky and white cloud logo is presented in the center of the front in a polished way.
From the side, the hatchback has a hatchback body structure with slender body pillars that give it a huge window structure and a slender digital interface as a trim around the window. The C-pillar shape is digitally embellished, a nod to the classic Hofmets corner.
As a hatchback with a length of only 4,000 mm, the rear of the new car is impressive, with a streamlined tailgate, integrated taillight function and digitally animated appearance, making the rear look natural. The narrow shark fin at the top integrates communication and antenna technology and provides information about the vehicle's status, such as the vehicle's start-stop status, the battery's charge level, etc.
In contrast, the BMW i-Cycle Concept features a futuristic home-like interior design, with a sculptural projection instrument cluster designed as a next-generation "digital physical" user interface, meaning to transform digitalization into a tactile experience. The middle part of the center console is composed of a 3D printed water lens, which will become the focal point of the user concentration in the car, and can communicate with the user through the three-dimensional touchpad, showing the future of human-vehicle communication.
In addition, the fabric surfaces of the four individual seats in the new car are made of recycled plastic, providing a velvet-like texture. A single-column base is used under the seat to move forward and backward, which further increases the legroom for passengers in the car. It is reported that the development of this concept car is guided by reducing the number of parts, including the elimination of the front chrome plating and bezels, the use of recycled aluminum materials anodized to light gold to avoid the use of paint, and even the front logo is presented in a polished way to reduce the increase in additional parts.
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