iNEXT– the building blocks for the future of the BMW
Group.
At the BMW AG Annual General Meeting in May 2018,
Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management at the BMW Group,
described iNext as follows: “The iNEXT project will provide our
building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all
of its brands are set to benefit.”
iNEXT addresses the big
question that is at the heart of the BMW Group’s day-to-day work: “How
will we be moving around in future?” iNEXT builds resolutely on the
idea that first took shape in 2007 with “project i” and evolved into
the launch of the BMW i3 in 2013. The BMW Group has already achieved a
great deal on this front: it now has over ten years of experience with
electric mobility under its belt in both small-scale and large-scale
production, the BMW i models are being improved all the time, and
their technology is being employed to gradually electrify models from
the BMW and MINI ranges. The next step now is the complete in-car
integration of the strategic innovation fields Autonomy + Connectivity
+ Electric + Services.
The Design, meanwhile, is a visual
expression of the innovation fields and answers the question about
what the driving pleasure experience is going to look like in future.
The car we know today as BMW iNEXT will come onto the market in 2021.
The BMW Vision iNEXT.
“The BMW Vision iNEXT
represents a new era of sheer driving pleasure,” said Harald Krüger,
Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. “It underlines the
leading role Germany plays in the future of mobility.”
Highly
automated, emission-free and fully connected, it brings together the
BMW Group’s strategic innovation fields into a Vision Vehicle for the
first time and provides revealing answers to the question: “What does
a vehicle look like which no longer needs to be driven by a person but
can be if desired?” At the heart of such deliberations are, more than
ever, people – with all their emotions and desires.
The series-produced version of the BMW iNEXT will assume the role of
a new technology flagship; production at Plant Dingolfing is slated to
begin in 2021. It will take the BMW Group’s strategic innovation
fields (“D+ACES”) onto the road for the first time as a single package.
A future-focused Vision Vehicle – the BMW Vision iNEXT – provides a
tangible preview of how the BMW iNEXT might look. “Personal mobility
is set to experience significant change,” explains Klaus Fröhlich,
Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for
Development. “The possibilities opened up by autonomous driving and
ever-expanding connectivity enable a whole new range of experiences
and ways of shaping a journey. With this in mind, we have designed the
all-electric BMW Vision iNEXT as a mobile environment that enhances
quality of life, a new “Favourite Space” in which we can be ourselves
and relax. Indeed, all of BMW’s endeavours will continue to revolve
around people – and their needs and desires when it comes to mobility
– in the future,” adds Fröhlich.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design sums up
the creative approach: “BMW i exists to generate creative,
pioneering ideas which transform the way we think about mobility. The
BMW Vision iNEXT marks another next big step on that journey of
transformation, showing how more intelligent vehicles can make our
lives easier and more beautiful.”
The exterior – modern elegance, expressed with
confidence.
Boasting the size and proportions of a
modern BMW SAV, the BMW Vision iNEXT cuts an authoritative figure. The
vehicle instantly conveys its trailblazing character through clearly
sculpted forms and surfaces. Striking paintwork and sophisticated
details strengthen this impression further. The Liquid Greyrose Copper
exterior gradually changes in shade from warm copper to dark rose and
injects the vehicle with dynamic flair even when stationary.
The large, interlinked double-kidney grille, the iconic side window
graphic, and the blue accent surfaces at the front, sides and rear
have clearly adopted the BMW i styling that already featured on the
BMW i Vision Dynamics presented in 2017. Unlocking the vehicle causes
the blue accents to light up, accentuating its eye-catching lines.
Glass surfaces such as the large windows and the lights are integrated
seamlessly into the design and have the appearance of elaborate inlays.
Kidney grille and “four-eyed” front end provide
identity.
In the centre of the front end stands a large,
upright kidney grille. As with all electrically powered vehicles, the
grille is blanked off. With no combustion engine to require cooling,
the kidney element now serves as an “intelligence panel” housing
various sensors.
A 3D-printed pattern points to the technology
below the surface. Super-slim headlights are part of a modern
interpretation of BMW’s signature four-eyed front end. The windscreen
extends smoothly into a large panoramic roof, lending the rump of the
car a visual lightness and ensuring the innovative interior is clearly
visible from the outside.
Modern appearance with opposing doors.
The BMW
Vision iNEXT displays the powerful, robust stance of a modern BMW SAV
when viewed from the side. The vehicle’s functional two-box
proportions and long roofline hint at the ample space inside. The long
wheelbase and short overhangs, meanwhile, give the silhouette a
dynamic edge. Powerfully sculpted surfaces curve along the flanks like
well-defined muscles. Precisely placed lines intensify this interplay
and lend added impact to the wheel arches. The large (24-inch) wheels
are aerodynamically efficient, and their three-dimensional, sculptural
design represents both a stylistic and functional highlight. Cameras
assume the job of the exterior mirrors, while touch-sensitive
illuminated graphics take the place of conventional door openers,
underlining the modern, enclosed appearance. There are two large
opposing doors with no B-pillar separating them. When opened, they
provide an unobstructed view of the spacious interior, while the frame
reveals carbon-fibre surfaces. Black cladding brings the bottom edge
of the flanks to an SAV-style conclusion and incorporates a blue
accent strip as a marker of the vehicle’s electric drive system.
At the rear, the horizontal arrangement of the lines and surfaces
creates a wide and dynamic stance. The slender and distinctive rear
lights extend a long way into the car’s rear end and emphasise its
appearance. The air flows along the roof and this combines with a
diffuser – that is illuminated for added impact – to enhance the car’s aerodynamics.
Interior – My Favourite Space.
BMW Vision iNEXT
drivers can choose to either drive themselves (in “Boost” mode) or be
driven (“Ease” mode). “Boost” mode uses the electric drive system to
deliver a highly dynamic and virtually silent driving experience with
zero emissions. In “Ease” mode, the vehicle offers the driver and
passengers a space in which to engage in a wide range of activities.
The BMW Vision iNEXT can be a place of relaxation, interaction,
entertainment or concentration, as desired; the possibilities are as
manifold as the occupants’ needs. Accordingly, the cabin is more akin
to a comfortable and fashionably furnished “living space” on wheels –
a new “Favourite Space”.
Relaxed interior ambience.
The large panoramic
roof floods the interior with light, creating a cheerful, welcoming
atmosphere. Two individual seats in the front plus a one-piece bench
in the rear mean there is room for up to four people. There are just a
few, clean-cut lines defining the interior – a geometry that truly
brings the materials and colours to the fore. A blend of cloth and
wood materials produces a high-quality impression and makes various
elements resemble furniture. The nude shade Purus Rosé, Brown and
Beige are mainly used for the cockpit’s colour scheme, with accents in
the shimmering metallic Mystic Bronze. The rear compartment is
dominated by the chiefly petrol-coloured Enlighted Cloudburst cloth
upholstery with its intricate Jacquard weave, which runs
asymmetrically across the seat area and extends into the side
panelling and parcel shelf. The result is a visual separation between
the cockpit and the rear that produces the effect of different
furnishings in an apartment.
“Boost” and “Ease” modes alter the driver’s
environment.
Inside the generously sized cockpit, the
driver’s area is defined by the two visible digital display panels and
the steering wheel. The flat dashboard with beige cloth covering teams
up with touches of wood and a clearly patterned wooden floor to create
a pleasant, homely ambience. In “Boost” mode, the steering wheel and
displays are positioned clearly towards the driver. When “Ease” mode
is engaged, the driver’s immediate environment changes: the steering
wheel retracts slightly, creating a more open sense of space. The
display panels switch from driving-related content to “Exploration
Mode”, which provides the driver and passengers with suggestions of
places and events in the surrounding area that could be of interest to
them. Plus, the front seat head restraints can be folded back,
allowing the people in the front to communicate more effectively with
the passengers in the rear.
Centre console resembles a high-quality piece of
furniture.
The centre console between the front seats
has all the makings of a high-quality piece of furniture, thanks to
both its design and materials. A matt, open-pore wood finish gives it
the appearance of a floating coffee table that continues right through
to the rear. Under the fine wooden panel is a shell made from
exquisite, illuminated crystal glass sitting atop a delicate,
bronze-coloured base. The crystal’s faceting refracts the incoming
light, splits it up into a multitude of colours and bathes the
interior in light reflections.
Inviting rear compartment.
At first glance, the
rear compartment has the appearance of a modern, high-end living
space. A generously sized, continuous seat area gives the rear a
laid-back lounge character and invites its occupants to stay a while.
The handwoven Enlighted Cloudburst Jacquard cloth extends across the
entire seat area and into the side panelling, gradually changing from
Petrol to White in the process, but still lends the cabin a very
modern touch.
Shy Tech: Innovative technology integrated out of sight yet
always available.
Apart from the steering wheel and
displays in the driver’s area, there are no other screens or controls
to be seen in the BMW Vision iNEXT. In order to preserve the homely
character of the rear compartment, and therefore keep the people on
board at centre stage, the intelligent technology is integrated out of
sight. Only when it is required by the driver or passengers does the
technology becomes visible and operable. For example, in future it may
be possible to operate various functions via surfaces made out of wood
or cloth. Displays would no longer be essential, as intelligent
projection could turn any surface into an interactive display. The BMW
Vision iNEXT highlights three different, visionary applications for
this “Shy Tech” in the form of Intelligent Personal Assistant,
Intelligent Materials and Intelligent Beam.
Intelligent Personal
Assistant The vehicle’s Intelligent Personal Assistant
switches on in response to the prompt “Hey BMW”. The BMW Vision iNEXT
forms an integral part of the digital world and is seamlessly
interlinked with the BMW Connected, smart devices and smart home
network, making it possible for drivers to close the windows of their
house, for example, by voice command.
Intelligent
Materials. When driving in “Boost” mood the Control Display can
be operated in conventional style using its touch functionality. But
in “Ease” mode, the centre console’s wooden surface assumes this
control function instead. Arm and hand posture is just as relaxed as
when using the iDrive Controller: the hand simply lies on the
perforated wooden surface and, whenever any inputs are made, points of
light resembling a comet’s tail will follow the finger. The Jacquard
cloth in the rear also possesses integral control functionality. It
comes to life at the touch of a finger and allows music playback to be
controlled using various gestures, which are given visual emphasis by
LEDs that light up underneath the cloth.
Intelligent Beam. In
the use of media, as with vehicle operation, the digital and analogue
worlds will merge into one more and more in future. It is becoming
increasingly possible to visualise information in projected form,
which could dispense with the need for displays in the long term. The
Intelligent Beam technology being showcased in the BMW Vision iNEXT
already goes one step in this direction, as it can serve as both a
reading light and an interactive projection screen. This enables, for
instance, the text in a printed book to be supplemented by images,
moving content and interactive graphics, all of which can be
controlled by touch.
A symbol of a new era.
The BMW Vision iNEXT
takes the possibilities of autonomous mobility into a future not far
from now and showcases solutions which, first and foremost, inject
fresh energy and also embody the strategic focus of the BMW Group
when it comes to the future of personal mobility. In 2021, Sheer
Driving Pleasure will be reimagined in the form of the
series-production BMW iNEXT, which will take the BMW Group’s strategic
innovation fields (“D+ACES”) onto the road for the first time in a
single package.
The BMW Vision iNEXT World Flight.
Two
companies, one mission. Munich, New York, San Francisco and Beijing:
four cities on three continents in five days. The BMW Group is teaming
up with Lufthansa Cargo to showcase the BMW Vision iNEXT as part of
the BMW Vision iNEXT World Flight – a presentation with a very special twist.
More than 300 International media representatives will board the most
efficient cargo aircraft in its class (a Boeing 777F from the
Lufthansa Cargo fleet) to experience for the first time the vision of
future mobility: the BMW Vision iNEXT – the BMW Group’s latest Vision Vehicle.
Lufthansa Cargo and the BMW Group team have worked together closely
to turn this extraordinary vehicle and technology presentation from
idea into reality.
The assembled guests are introduced to the trailblazing vehicle and
the future of the BMW Group as part of an exclusive closed room
concept specially conceived and designed for the occasion.
Preparations for the presentation event have involved laying more
than 7.5 km of wiring, while 78,000 LEDs in 165 video LED modules and
ten 13,000 ANSI lumen projectors create a show inside the Boeing
aircraft that appeals to all the senses. Over 120 specialists in
exhibition stand construction from Lufthansa Cargo and the BMW Group
have played their part in making the project happen.
The engineers and experts have used around 30 tonnes of material to
construct a suitable platform for the BMW Vision iNEXT. The challenge
has involved not only staging a presentation the likes of which few or
any of those present will have witnessed before, but also ensuring
their creation would literally “take off”.
Timings will be tight, given the need to turn the entire set-up
inside the 777F from presentation mode to flight mode and back quickly
and securely. The first guests are expected to arrive eight hours
after the plane lands. And just four hours after the final
presentation has been wrapped up at one venue, the Boeing will take
off again for the next destination on its itinerary. This technical
and logistical tour de force will underpin a vehicle and technology
presentation that is genuinely unprecedented.
“Visionary products deserve visionary presentations. We are delighted
to have made this extraordinary world premiere possible in cooperation
with BMW,” said Peter Gerber, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board
of Lufthansa Cargo AG.
“iNEXT is our mobility proposition for the future, so it’s only
logical that the BMW Vision iNEXT should be presented to a global
audience in a fresh new style,” said Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the
Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Development. “The World
Flight is a fitting way to get the ball rolling.”
The aircraft’s exterior makeover takes its cues from the interior
design created for the vehicle presentation. And Lufthansa Cargo’s
Boeing 777F will be adorned with special decals accordingly when it
takes off from Munich Airport on 9 September for its round-the-world
flight. After calling in at New York, San Francisco and Beijing, the
aircraft is due to touch down at its home airport of Frankfurt on 14 September.
iNEXT – the next milestones.
Flexibility – the
key to success. Ten years ago, the BMW Group launched “project i” as
part of its NUMBER ONE strategy and promptly became a pioneer in
electric mobility.
Today, vehicles with combustion engines and plug-in drive systems are
built on the same architecture. In one of the successful developments
to come out of 2009’s project i, this ensures production is flexible
and can be adapted to demand.
The BMW iNEXT vehicle project has assumed a comparable central role
in the development of the tool kits and components required in the
future. Looking ahead, the new vehicle architectures for all front-,
rear- and all-wheel drive configurations, plus state-of-the-art
factories, will allow the BMW Group to make quick decisions on which
and how many models should be fully electric, equipped with a plug-in
hybrid drive system or powered by a highly efficient combustion
engine. By 2025 the BMW Group will be offering 25 models with
electrified drive systems, 12 of which will be pure-electric.
2019: The MINI BEV.
In July 2017 the BMW Group
announced that the new, fully-electric MINI would be launched as a
variant of the MINI 3 door. Production of the all-electric MINI will
begin in 2019. In the future, MINI customers will be able to choose
from three different drive types: combustion engine, plug-in hybrid or
pure-electric motor. The drivetrain of the fully-electric MINI will be
produced at BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Landshut – the competence
centres for electric mobility within the company’s production network.
The drivetrain will then be integrated into the car at BMW Group Plant
Oxford. The decision in favour of Oxford was made in the knowledge
that the plant already produces the majority of MINI 3 door models.
2020:
The production car of the BMW Concept iX3.
The
BMW Concept iX3 presented for the first time at the Auto China 2018
show in Beijing, offers an early glimpse into the future: The first
model from the BMW brand to be driven purely by electric power will be
a fully-fledged Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) – and without
compromises when it comes to functionality and comfort.
Among the innovations showcased in the BMW Concept iX3 is the fifth
generation of BMW eDrive technology. A key benefit of this electric
drive technology of the future is the grouping together of the
electric motor, transmission and power electronics within a new,
separate electric drive component. Plus, the fifth-generation electric
drive system also includes new and more powerful batteries.
This fresh package of technology brings considerable advances in
terms of performance characteristics, operating range, weight,
packaging space and flexibility – and will be making its debut in the
purely electrically-driven SAV.
Plus, the modular construction of the technology enables it to be
adapted to the performance levels required and the available space.
Another notable element is that the electric motor does not need any
rare earths, which means the BMW Group is not dependent on their availability.
As for the performance figures of the BMW Concept iX3: its electric
motor develops over 200 kW/270 hp and gives a range in the WLTP cycle
of more than 400 kilometres (249 miles).