BMW Vision Neue Klasse Previews All Future BMW Models

年代ep. 02, 2023 4:30 AM ET by年代ebastian Cenizo Concept /29 Comments

Its styling is purer, its powertrain is more efficient, and its infotainment is next-generation.

BMW has unveiled a concept called the Vision Neue Klasse, giving us a preview of what to expect from future Bimmers. No, really. BMW admits that the car looks very futuristic, but it still incorporates distinctive BMW styling elements.

"The design of the Neue Klasse is typically BMW and so progressive it looks like we skipped a model generation," said Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design.

The aesthetic is clean and pure, something that has been sorely missing from BMW products of late, but BMW promises that clear, elegant, timeless design will define future Neue Klasse models, whichwill start arriving in 2025. And it won't just be this concept's styling that will influence future cars.

We already knew that thei Vision Dee conceptrevealed at the beginning of the yearwould inform the next BMW 3 Series, and the Vision Neue Klasse is a clear evolution of that, bringing the worlds of concepts and production vehicles closer together in a distillation of distinctive BMW design elements. The Hofmeister kink is present, as are the shark nose front, the inset greenhouse, and the muscular arches.

BMW is also showing off yet another application of itsastonishing E Ink technology. The lower portion of the side windows uses E Ink to perform a welcome sequence and to indicate where the sensors for automatic door opening are located. The welcome sequence also affects the kidney grille, where chrome is replaced by lighting, and the 3D-printed layered taillights. 21-inch wheels, a glass roof, and Joyous Bright luminous yellow paintwork (it's a subtle yellow) complete the design highlights.

Expect these technologies to make their way to production vehicles, including the next3 Series, but expect them to be integrated in different ways. We already know that each model'skidney grilles will be unique, and we suspect that the application of E Ink will vary, too.

"With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company's history," said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development. "We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we're writing a whole new book. That's why the Neue Klasse will certainly impact all model generations."

While design and technology are major focal points of the concept, circularity and efficiency are vital considerations, too.

BMW says the Neue Klasse vehicles will be produced "entirely without fossil fuels and with much wider use of raw and secondary materials produced with reduced CO₂," and the cars themselves will see optimizations in weight, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, and heat management, particularly for the electric drivetrain, which will use sixth-generation eDrive tech.

Along with highly efficient motors and newly-developedround battery cells, BMW promises more than 20% higher energy density compared to the old prismatic cells. In addition, charging speeds will be improved by up to 30%, and the range will grow by up to 30%, too. BMW says all this will result in an overall efficiency increase of as much as 25%.

BMW has also focused on sustainable materials, with no decorative chrome or leather in the cabin. And when the car reaches the end of its life, "an improved dismantling concept" will make it easier to recycle Neue Klasse vehicles. In a world facing ashortage of raw materials like lithium, this kind of move is crucial to sustained success.

最后大不了来自这个概念是它highly innovative infotainment display system, which features afull-width head-up displaythat spans the whole windscreen. The next generation of iDrive will feature this BMW Panoramic Vision system, a Central Display, and multifunction steering wheel buttons.

Annoyingly, BMW announced that "analog operating controls have been reduced to a minimum." However, the automaker notes that information is projected at the ideal height into the driver's line of sight, and drivers can move content from the parallelogram-shaped Central Display to the BMW Panoramic Vision system with just a gesture. The passenger can also interact with the full-width display.

The yellow hue that permeates the car will represent Sport mode, and the color is mixed in with bright cord fabrics to contrast with a light instrument panel. The flat-bottomed-and-topped steering wheel sits alone, and this simplified approach carries over to the front seats, where a single bracket enhances legroom for the individually seated pair of rear occupants.

In summary, this concept continues to evolve the BMW design language while showcasing the automaker's ability to provide next-generation technology and luxury in a remarkably sustainable way. Not all fans will appreciate the styling direction, the infotainment layout, or the simple fact that more electric Bimmers are imminent.

But we suspect that the vast majority of buyers would prefer elegant design and an uncluttered cabin to the overstyled appearance of most contemporary models from Munich. These innovations in technology and sustainability may not appeal to the purist today, but they will appeal to the general public tomorrow.

We're just happy that the next 3 Series might not be totally hideous if it does adopt most Vision Neue Klasse cues. With the automaker specifically noting that this expression of the future is "pared down to key BMW-typical elements," now is the time to be quietly optimistic that BMW is returning to creating cars that bewitch, not bewilder.

BMW says that what we see here is close to production-ready and will hit the road very soon.