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BMW showed off its M Vision Next concept car in Munich, the successor to their i8 hybrid sports car. The M Next is focused squarely on the actively engaged driver.
Adriaan van Hooydonk, senior vice-president of design, says: "The M Next demonstrates how state-of-the-art technology can also make the experience of driving yourself purer and more emotionally engaging."
0-100km/h in three seconds
The Vision M Next is powered by a plug-in electric hybrid drive system in offers the choice between electric all-wheel drive and pure rear-wheel drive, with either all-electric propulsion or the power of a turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.
Total output of 441kW results in a top speed of 300km/h and it'll reach 100km/h from rest in three seconds. BMW has also added a Boost+ mode that puts extra power on tap at the push of a button.
Maximum range in all-electric mode is a claimed 100km.
To enter the M Next, the car uses facial recognition tech to unlock the doors. Inside, occupants can engage with the interface via speech, prompting commands.
The concept also debuts, what BMW calls Ease and Boost experience modes, the former is to relax in the car and enjoy the infotainment system while Boost unlocks the ultimate active driver experience.
The driver engages with what BMW calls a Boost pod, encompassing two displays inside the steering wheel and a glass display ahead of that and a heads-up display given more info.
While the media has speculated that the M Next is the successor to the i8, BMW says it's angled more towards an M car than the i designation.
No word on when a production version of the M Next will be built. Although judging from the motoring media's response, it's generated a lot of engagement.
