Concept [Official] BMW Vision Next 100

[Rainer271]

Transformations and Visions: BMW’s view for the future

When looking toward the future, BMW faced a paradox: The future cannot be predicted, no by any expert or scientist. However, there are future projections for the future that BMW must take seriously, so it can prepare for what consumers might need in decades to come. BMW wishes to create as holistic a view as possible for the future of mobility and also firmly believes that personal mobility will remain a fundamental human need. BMW feels that people will want to be able to control their own transportation and mobility for the foreseeable future and doesn’t buy into what anyone is saying about human interaction being eliminated from automobiles.

According to BMW, the automobile will change more over the next decade than it did over the last 30 years, which is an incredible thing to believe, considering that the automobile has change more over the last 30 years than it has over the last 100 years. BMW believes that technology and digitilization will drive the automobile moving forward. Right now, the company is on the verge of realising automated driving. With it will come a series of technical challenges, but also a major opportunity for revolutionising mobility. In the future, Sheer Driving Pleasure will also be defined as liberating drivers through automation.

BMW already offers quite an extensive amount of automated driving aids on its new 7 Series, but the company plans on expanding those features to enhance road safety and increase comfort and efficiency. BMW showcased much of this technology at the 2016 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) with its BMW i Vision Future Interaction concept car.

Another area in which the BMW Group is building on the advantages of digitalization is production. Here, connectivity between the real and digital worlds offers significant potential in many areas. The aim is to achieve an intelligent, connected production set-up where complex processes can be made even more efficient through the application of IT-supported technologies.

BMW Group is focusing primarily on four different areas; Automated data capture and analysis, Smart Logistics, Innovative automation systems and Additive manufacturing. BMW wants to focus on the areas to increase productivity, create a more transparent supply network and more optimized supply chains, increase the use of flexible robots to aid workers in physically demanding areas of manufacturing and bring in new manufacturing solutions, such as 3D printing.

BMW also wants to focus on sustainability, as the BMW Group understands its environmental responsibility. According to RobecoSAM, BMW has been the Sustainability Leader among all automakers for the last 15 years. BMW has been a pioneer in the industry, in this field, since 1973 when it was the first automaker to assign an Environment Officer to help BMW manufacture automobiles in the most environmentally-friendly and economical way. Moreover, BMW has cut its fleet’s overall emissions by 40 percent since 1990, largely due to its EfficientDynamics technologies launched in 2007.

Another key factor in reducing the environmental impact of vehicle production is the use of energy from renewable sources, such as wind and water. Already, around 58 percent of electricity purchased by the BMW Group comes from renewable sources. The plant at Moses Lake, for example, uses hydro-power; Leipzig uses wind power, and Rosslyn uses biomass. By the year 2020, the BMW Group aims to cut its consumption of energy, water, waste and solvents per vehicle produced by 45 percent.

So BMW is planning on creating not only more engaging and exciting new vehicles, using the most innovative new technologies, but by reducing its global environmental footprint and creating a more sustainable future. Regardless of different views on such topics, its hard to argue with the commendable approach that BMW is taking. The BMW Group is looking to shape the future of the automobile even further and we should have no doubt that it will be able to do so. If the past 100 years of BMW is anything to go by, we should be in for another exciting century.

Source: BMWBlog

 

[nikola1984]

...i8s,x7 concept,m1,m8,m100....dissapointing.

 

[Rainer271]

Happy Birthday, BMW!

Source: BMWBlog

 

[Matski]

Well, on the one-hand, I did want something extravagant, and I'd say this is pretty much unlike all their other concept cars. I also think it looks alright - for a concept car. However, the concept of autonomous driving just doesn't excite me at all, I simply can't relate to it in any real way.

I guess it's a suitable concept for the 'next 100'. Cars haven't really changed that much over the years in terms of the form taking most of its cues from the function - though obviously the technology has evolved and the styling has continually changed. Whether or not the owner is driving, if cars still want to carry typically around 4 people, in a seated position, whilst rolling along the ground, and offer passengers a view of the outside world, and have an onboard power source - they're aren't really going to change their form radically (assuming the laws or aerodynamics don't change either).

Anyway, that's just my two cents...

I'll celebrate my 100th post by wishing BMW a happy birthday, and thanking them for giving me a lot of enjoyment over the years.

 

[mercpassion]

never been so confusing to understand a concept, just not feeling it. Though I like the classic take on the kidney grill, but that's about it, something else I'm struggling with; is it a car or a sketch, also can someone please explain them triangle structure forms, it seems very intriguing. All in all, quite disappointing for such an important 100th anniversary event like this, they could have done much better, at least they could have opted for a sporty configuration (roadster or Coupe etc).

 

[Matski]

also can someone please explain them triangle structure forms,

They allow the body panel to flex as the wheels steer.

Take away the really concepty elements, and give it some BMW-i makeover, I think it gives us a clue as to the probably direction of the i5.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

absolute ambivalence.

 

[Rainer271]

Source: Bimmertoday

 

[Rainer271]

BMW Group World Tour dates:

• Beijing (5-15 May) – BMW VISION NEXT 100 makes its Asian debut
• London (16-26 June) – MINI and Rolls-Royce Vision Vehicles to be unveiled
• Los Angeles (11-16 October) – BMW Motorrad Vision Vehicle makes its world debut

Source: BMWBlog

 

[martinbo]

Is this the most meh way ever of celebrating 100 years of sheer driving pleasure?

I'm gonna walk down into the basement and look at my 3er. It's more exciting.

 

[Rainer271]

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[EnI]

Is this the most meh way ever of celebrating 100 years of sheer driving pleasure?

Actually ... The 100th birthday celebration is a great opportunity to celebrate, envision & embrace the next 100 years. Celebrating the future instead of the past. IMHO it's a wise decision.


... BMW AG have also announced to become more software / IT oriented company in the next few years. Hiring lots of software specialists. Increasing software / IT employees to over 50% of all engineers employed within BMW Group (now software & IT engineers total 20% of all engineers employed within BMW Group). An aim to fight more IT-oriented carmakers like Testa and IT specialist like Google / Alphabet and Apple when it comes to automotive software & even cars.

What carmakers do fear most (if not being on par with IT specialists when it comes to autonomous driving) is to become "case makers" for Google & Apple. Developing & supplying car chassis & body & driverain & powertrain (= hardware), while the operational core of the car (=software) will be provided by IT companies like Google & Apple. Apple offering a car under their own brand, while Google will most probable offer the tech to others - just like it does with Android OS. Meaning: carmakers will completely become dependent on IT companies.

...

The other announcement was about increasing the renewable energy sources to power BMW AG facilities. Right now renewable energy sources total 54% of all energy sources used by BMW Group. And this figure will be significantly increased in the next few years.


...

What I don't understand is the passiveness & complete lack of involvement of the Quandts when it comes to IT field. With the money Stefan Quandt & Susanne Klatten have got (and get additional €1billion or so EVERY YEAR from BMW AG dividends) they could invest a lot in a start-up companies which could be later acquired by / merged with BMW AG. Such companies could specialize in batteries, new materials, software for autonomous driving, electric cars, fuel-cell cars etc. Being much more flexible than BMW AG. Being financially independent from BMW AG - and therefore more radical & risky when it comes to R&D, business plans etc etc.

Not many (if any) carmaker has such wealthy majority owners who can develop or / and acquire a company that would (in the future) complement BMW AG. Just like Skion (Klatten's investment fund) did with SGL Carbon. I wonder why that's not the case with IT & automotive startups as well.

It's about time for the Qunadts (and especially Susanne Klatten) to become more active in the IT & EV field when it comes to their investments.

I guess Germans are just TOO CONSERVATIVE when it comes to that. I hope the won't miss a great opportunity before it's too late. At least BMW CEO Her Krueger is very eager to shift to IT & EV, and we can only hope to persuade the Quandts to help BMW (just like they did with SGL Carbon - on previous CEO's, Herr Reithofer, request).

 

[jack]

being too conservative is probably a point. but i think that APPs and services are just not tangible enough for an engineering company. understanding the power of services and managing a convergence between hardware and software is something only very few companies have mastered. BMW has invested in six IT start ups (or more?), but "growing" these start ups into fully potent companies takes time and intelligent decisions.

 

[martinbo]

Actually ... The 100th birthday celebration is a great opportunity to celebrate, envision & embrace the next 100 years. Celebrating the future instead of the past. IMHO it's a wise decision.

EnI - I like your post because of the quality of contribution; I can't say that I have any opposition to the points you make. But, I can't help but feel "fun-policed" by it either.

Why bother with a concept car at all - why not just pop up a Powerpoint presentation detailing the BMW Technology Stack Vision 2116? [/tongue-in-cheek].

I've been in IT my entire professional career and I assure you I recognise the significance thereof. I run an IT company: selling, developing and implementing business solutions using software from that giant German company with three letters. And so when you mention IT and cars in one go I just get depressed. For all the wonderful things that IT has done for the world, it's also done a great deal of harm to people's quality of life. The stress alone associated with IT in its myriad forms when it doesn't work is enough to put anyone in the dumps.

Presently, driving one's own car is a liberating experience largely (and I say largely) unmolested by the advanced information systems that make combustion chambers go boom, gears whirr and tyres screech. There is still enjoyment to be had in driving because the human action is disconnected from the technology and is directed toward the attention of driving. People see autonomous driving; I see "sorry my car has a bug but I wasn't coming in to the office because I'll be online from my home office anyhow." You know what I think? In a hundred years' time the only reason to drive would be for the visceral, physical sensation of it - working, meetings, shopping, training, operating... much of that be done remotely in any event.

The point of celebrating a centenary is as much to review where you've come from, what you did right and what separated you from your competitors - and then celebrate that whilst keeping a view to the ever-changing future. History has shown that concept cars that were futuristic in the 80's now elicit sympathetic expressions like "ag shame - they had no idea what was really coming".

So as important as it is to articulate your vision for the future - a completely unpredictable 100 years from now - upon your centenary, I believe it is equally important to embrace what you do NOW that sets you apart from your peers. And what BMW does so well in the present is make a range of cars that give their owners genuine driving enjoyment. 20 years from now Vision Next 100 will be forgotten as the flag-bearer for BMW's centenary. But a sought-after and cherished special production model, created to mark the occasion, will always be reminder of that landmark in BMW's history.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

What a monumental disappointment. I cannot even be bothered to read the press release. Utterly, utterly dull. As far as I can tell it's an autonomous vehicle? OK. BMW, a brand which has built its reputation on being the "ultimate driving machine", and is still dining out on "sheer driving pleasure", celebrates its 100 year anniversary with a car that drives itself? What?

And it seems it won't be at Geneva, so that huge space in the middle of the BMW stand was for nothing at all.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

BMW, a brand which has built its reputation on being the "ultimate driving machine", and is still dining out on "sheer driving pleasure", celebrates its 100 year anniversary with a car that drives itself?

So true. Makes me almost feel depressed. BMW, quo vadis?(!)

 

[EnI]

@Martin

It may sound totally tacky but BMW folks actually BELIEVE in the motto that "The best way to predict the future is to create it."

It's inevitable automotive world is heading towards autonomous or even more radical: into automated driving. And to operate / manage automation a software is required. So it's either done in-house, outsourced or bought from established IT company.

But we live in an IT era where leading IT companies are megacorporations with enormous power & influence. Not to mention the resources.

And as said: carmakers are in horrendous fear of becoming just "case makers" for those IT giants. Therefore all the shift into IT & software. And there is constant fear of the "Kodak doom" - a transition for a relevant tech giant & industry leading player to an irrelevant bankrupt company. It can happen quite quickly. Nokia & Ericsson & Motorola ... and even Blackberry ... perhaps even HTC soon ... are the reminders how quickly your doom can come upon you.

Yes, an era of (romanticized) motoring is coming (slowly but inevitably) coming to an end. The costs of chaotic transportation are enormous. Automatized road driving will contribute to HUGE cost & time savings. Not only in cargo transportation but also in personal transportation as well. All the major corporations are heading towards such automation - it can also eliminate human factor / labor when it comes to driving - so human resources could be used in more sophisticated manner rather used for driving. That's even more important in road transport industry. Imagine buses & trucks & vans & taxis etc without drivers, and the transport fully automated. That's the goal.

And even in personal day-to-day transportation people could use the time spent in a car much better & efficiently than today. Either for work, leisure, fun, socializing, education etc. Time spent for driving is lost time. That's a consensus among various analysts.

So ... then there you have a company which all the image is based on the "Sheer driving pleasure" or / and being "The ultimate driving machine". Not a good image & value for the future where driver's involvement won't be even needed anymore. So, quite an effort has to be put into transition between the eras - so it can be as seamless & effortless as possible. For the company & for its customers.

Yes, be sure BMW will ALWAYS offer a "manual mode" - at least in certain models (eg Ms and certain sporty core models i.e. coupes, roadsters etc). But in the essence the car will be an AD car - software driven, connected in traffic network. Dependent on traffic conditions etc.

So, the future is : more convenience, more (free) time ... less freedom & independence ... when it comes to driving. Fun? It will still be there - on certain country roads. Much less in congested urban areas. Motoring? Sure. At least partially available. Petroling? Almost extinct. ICE cars will become such a tiny & expensive niche nobody would believe it. EVs are the future. Chargeable via network and / or H-fuel-cell driven.

That's the future. It can't be avoided. Unless some Armageddon happens and puts us back into technological stone age.


Regarding Vision Next 100 Years ... It's as relevant as Vision Efficient Dynamics was. And as Vision Future Luxury is. We all know what emerged from VED ... So in a few years something interesting will emerge from VFL, and in 2 - 3 generations even VN100Y will be materialized as a production car - of course as a viable production version.


Ideas ... Dreams ... Visions. They are VERY important. All great things are aftermaths of great ideas, dreams, visions.

And every company that's able to adapt itself to new times, new challenges, new tech etc ... is worth of admiration! But be sure such adaptation ability is not for granted.

IMHO BMW are on the right path to stay a major player in automotive industry also in the future. And even more: staying independent & very flexible.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Time spent for driving is lost time. That's a consensus among various analysts.

See that completely different. Among other things, I use my driving time to philosophize my day and future. Man, EnI, the future you're sketching, is scaring me.

 

[klier]

Among other things, I use my driving time to philosophize my day and future.

Well you'll still be driving, just not by yourself. So maybe your dreams for the future will be even better

But yea, it's pretty scary. Driving as we know it is going to be extinct, just like horseback riding and a carriage 100 years ago.

 

[Busty]

See that completely different. Among other things, I use my driving time to philosophize my day and future. Man, EnI, the future you're sketching, is scaring me.

I second that, Mick.
However, and I guess that is what @Enl is referring to, research shows that a considerable number of car owners want autonomous driving functions for certain situations.