On March 7, 2016, BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG)
celebrated its 100th anniversary. Some celebration events had been prepared by
BMW at its hometown, Munich, including the launch of a new concept car that
will become a reflection of the automotive industry in the future.
Named BMW Vision Next 100, this concept car was designed
with a vision to anticipate the consumer needs toward means of transportation
in the future. The prediction that eventually all cars will be equipped with
automatic steering system is also approved by BMW. Even so, this automotive
manufacturer still wants to present a satisfying driving experience, as it has
become BMW's vision for a long time through the tagline "Sheer Driving
Pleasure".
In developing this concept car, BMW doesn’t only consider
what kind of technology that will be relevant in the decades to come, but also
the innovations that have become their flagship so far. Simply put, BMW wants
to create a car that can move by itself, but only if the driver wants it.
This vision is realized through two driving modes that are
brought by BMW Vision Next 100. The "Boost" mode is the driving mode
which we used to know today. User has full control over the steering wheel,
while the system will help through a row of information displayed on the
windshield of the car, aka heads-up display (HUD).
The next driving mode is the "Ease" mode where the
steering wheel will be integrated with the dashboard and the system will take
over the car. Here the windshield of the car will still be filled with a
variety of information, but it only leads to the travel guide, featuring
attractive places that can be visited.
BMW also provides solutions for the problem that might be
faced by pedestrians in the future, i.e. how they could know when a car is
driven by a human, and when it moves by itself. To that end, the outside lights
of Vision Next 100 will change color adjusting the driving mode that's
currently active.
BMW also presents a physical representation of the artificial
intelligence (AI) system, which becomes the brain of Vision Next 100 in the
form of an object in the middle of the dashboard, facing the windshield. Called
The Companion, it would react to the driving mode that's being active.
In Boost mode, The Companion will be idle. But when Ease
mode is active, it will appear and flashes the pedestrians or other drivers
around. The aim is to inform them that the system has recognized them, so the
pedestrians and other drivers don't have to worry about being harmed by the
self-driving car.
Physically, this car seems like coming from the future. BMW
reveals a unique idea behind its construction, which is a process they call
"4D printing". Basically, this process will integrate the functions
of the car parts right from the early stages of production, even before being
assembled into one.
Although it's not intended for racing, the aerodynamic
aspect is still considered carefully here. Fender surrounding the four wheels
can change shape to adjust to road conditions, all to improve the aerodynamic
aspect of the car.
Unfortunately, BMW hasn't explained the details of machine
that will become the driving force of Vision Next 100. BMW only makes sure that
this car will not generate carbon emissions, which means that it will rely on
the electric motor. Even so, there is still no certainty whether the power
comes from a hydrogen fuel cell or lithium batteries like those used by Tesla.
Of course, this concept car will not run on the streets in
the near future. The final goal is to open the eyes of consumers about what
kind of cars that will be produced by BMW in the future, and of course how BMW
will face the fierce competition of automotive industry in the future.