BMW Vision M Next revealed

With simpler detailing and a similar profile to the hybrid i8 supercar, not to mention louvre-like rear windscreen and c-pillar vents, the Vision M Next has more than a touch of M1 about it.

Apart from the bright splashes of orange and the size-too-small head- and tail-lights, it looks almost production ready.

The Vision M Next continues BMW's recent penchant for oversized double kidney grille, though. Interestingly they aren't linked, as they have been on recent M cars.

The show car debuts Laser Wire headlamps, which feature glass fibres coated with phosphorous to produce light in a very compact layout.

Facial recognition technology is used to unlock the car, and the gull-wing doors are opened via a touch sensor.

Inside the cabin there's a rectangular steering wheel with two small screens built in above which, in the driver's line of sight, is a visor-like transparent curved screen.

Finally an augmented reality head-up display is integrated into the Vision M Next's windscreen.

The Vision M Next has an all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid drivetrain with a total of 441kW at its disposal. With all systems working together the car is said to be capable of a 0-100km/h time of 3.0 seconds. Maximum driving range in pure EV mode is said to be 100 kilometres.

For comparison purposes, the current i8's plug-in hybrid drivetrain mates a 105kW/250Nm electric motor with a 170kW/320Nm 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine.

The 0-100km/h sprint can be completed in 4.4 seconds, and the top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h. According to the NEDC testing cycle, the i8's EV range is 55km.