BMW’s Vision Future concept is a prophecy written in carbon fiber and aluminum

By Stephen Edelstein Published April 21, 2014

What is the future of luxury? No, it’s not flying cars.

Unveiled at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept describes a vision of the future that should be familiar to car buyers by now, one that uses technology to both improve efficiency and turn cars into large smartphones.

The body is rendered in carbon fiber and aluminum, and features a sleek design that not only looks striking but – according to BMW – reduces drag for better fuel efficiency. It also features the laser headlights set to debut on the 2015 i8 sports car.

The itself styling seems to be borrowed from the Pininfarina-designed Gran Lusso Coupe, and could indicate a new, more evocative direction BMW plans to take with future models.

For the interior, BMW used a process called “subtractive modeling”. This involved designing the interior in layers with different materials, including structural aluminum, surface carbon fiber, and wood and leather trim. This allowed designers to “mill down” the layers depending on what was needed in a given area, helping to save weight and conserve material.

The driver interface was designed around the infotainment display, including a new version of the BMW ConnectedDrive concierge and a head-up display that projects information into the driver’s line of sight for an augmented-reality feel. Welcome to the Borg-mobile.

Meanwhile, the two rear passengers get a detachable “Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet” that can control all secondary functions, display any information that’s available to front-seat occupants, and stream digital media.

The Vision Future Luxury is likely to remain a concept car, but its styling and at least some of its technology will likely be incorporated into the next BMW 7 Series. We’re hoping, though, this becomes a 9 Series. But we won’t hold our breath.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
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