Visitors of the LA Auto Show will have the chance to
see for the first time BMW’s futuristic Vision iNext, the company’s latest
concept built to preview the ‘future of personal mobility’.This is actually a preview of an electric SUV with
autonomous and connected features, that will arrive in 2021. The concept itself
is similarly sized to a BMW X5 but claims to offer way more interior space,
thanks to the EV-specific architecture that features superior packaging.
The electric powertrain comes with front- and
rear-mounted motors, as well as a battery tray under the floor. BMW says that
the Vision iNext is capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint in about four
seconds, offering a driving range of 611 km.
The main visual highlight of this latest BMW concept
is of course the oversized kidney grille; it’s not actually a grille but a
panel that houses sensors for the autonomous system. The interior design is
minimalist, mixing wood, fabric and metal with digital displays. The front
seats are divided by a table-style console while the rear bench can fit up to
four passengers.
There are two drive modes available: Boost and Ease.
The first one is the mode you choose if you want to drive yourself, with the
digital displays focused on the driver. Choose Ease and the steering wheel
folds away for a more comfortable commute as the Vision iNext drives itself.
BMW is planning to put the Vision iNext into
production at their Dingolfing factory, starting from 2021. It will be
positioned as the brand’s technological flagship, promising to open “a new era
in driving pleasure”, as well as marking the next step in autonomous and
connected technologies.
