BMW Vision Future Luxury concept revealed

The new BMW super limo has been revealed at the 2014 Beijing auto show, and is said to “furnish a long-term outlook on the perception of modern luxury for the BMW brand”.

With a striking front-end design boasting slim-line Laserlight headlights and the largest kidney grille to ever grace a BMW’s nose, the concept cuts an imposing figure. A sleek roofline, long wheelbase, large wheels and stumpy rear end with OLED tail-lights add to the substantive look of the concept.

No dimensions have been made available, but the car appears of a significant size, and likely measures more than a long-wheelbase 7 Series (5.21 metres). However, BMW says the car’s extensive use of carbon means it is extremely lightweight.

The BMW Vision Future Luxury features coach-style doors, but unlike some vehicles that dispense with a conventional full-scale B-pillar altogether, BMW has cleverly moulded carbon into the seat frames so as to cocoon the rear passengers while also increasing the torsional strength.

Adrian van Hooydonk, senior vice president of BMW Group design said the new model explores future design themes for the German marque.

“We use visionary concept vehicles like the BMW Vision Future Luxury to show where we may be going with these themes in the future, and to give us new inspiration and motivation,” van Hooydonk said.

Key to the approach is the car’s interior, which BMW says features a “radically new” user interface design and multi-layer interior finishing. The top layer is wood, then leather, then any functional user interface elements, then structural aluminium, and finally the base carbon fabric layer.

The rear features a pair of tablet-style devices that are integrated into the cross-member, and a third tablet between the two rear seats. Passengers can see the speed they’re travelling and other trip information, or use the system to surf the internet.

The driver’s seat – which is traditionally less important for a luxury car, particularly in China – also sees major changes compared to the current crop of BMWs.

A wraparound, minimalist dash featuring three display screens spanning two-thirds of the width of the car appear to make it hard to tell where the monitors end and the structure begins.

The small, left-most display offers vehicle and trip information; the middle offers other drive-relevant functions; while the right screen is the primary infotainment unit and includes an integrated push-button start system. The speedometer and main driver information, though, is taken care of via a new head up display that can highlight buildings, traffic signs or hazards “directly in the real-world environment”. It also features speed limit recognition, and a traffic light assistance function that offers information on the phasing of the lights.

There’s no word yet on a production version of the Vision Future Luxury, but rumours persist that the brand is looking to add an even more luxury- and style-focused model above the 7 Series.

Click the Photos tab above for more images of the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept.