Although it didn't build its first automobile until 1928 and its first motorcycle until 1923, BMW->ke178 was established as a business entity in 1916, following the restructuring of Rapp Motorenwerke, founded in 1913. As a result, the German brand will celebrate its centenary throughout 2016, starting with March 7th, the day when the company that is now known as BMW AG was first entered into the commercial register. As it is customary nowadays, BMW developed a special concept car->ke169 for its 100th anniversary. It is called the Vision Next 100 and it's supposed to predict the future.

Like most concept cars that aren't slated to go into production anytime soon, the Vision Next 100 promises more of everything. BMW has envisioned a vehicle that delivers more comfort, enhanced safety, state-of-the-art connectivity and, of course, effortless mobility. Yup, you guessed it, this is a self-driving concept. It does have a mode that allows the driver to take control, but this Bimmer has nothing in common with the company's current "ultimate driving machine" slogan. That's the way things are moving and BMW is obviously looking to adapt.

“If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something, there’s a good chance it could one day become reality,” said Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. “So our objective with the BMW Vision Next 100 was to develop a future scenario that people would engage with.”

Following its unveiling at the Centenary Event in the Munich Olympic Hall, the concept car will embark on a World Tour entitled "Iconic Impulses." The vehicle will stop in China, the U.K., and the U.S. The British event will mark the introduction of Vision Vehicles from both Mini and Rolls-Royce, while the North American launch will include a new concept from BMW Motorrad, the brand's motorcycle division. Until that happens, let's have a closer look at the first of BMW's four anniversary concepts.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW Vision Next 100 Concept.

2016 BMW Vision Next 100 Concept

Specifications
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  • Model: 2016 BMW Vision Next 100 Concept
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Pros
Cons

Exterior

As with most concepts built to celebrate such an important event (that aren't neo-retro throwbacks), the Vision Next 100 employs a rather wild design that's radically different than the one seen on current BMWs. A sporty-looking sedan that appears to be about the size of a 5 Series, the Vision Next 100 wears a sculpted body shell with beefy fenders shaped around the wheels. These areas are made from a flexible material consisting of triangular scales that stretch and twist as the front wheels turn.

The body configuration itself is significantly different than most current vehicles. The overhangs are shorter than usual and the windscreen extends well into the front hood, creating a canopy-like front cockpit area.

Trademark BMW features are hard to spot outside the massive twin-kidney grille, the Hofmeister kick, and the blue-and-while roundels. The familiar horizontal headlamps have been replaced with twin, vertical-oriented LED strips, while the taillights feature a 3D design that reminds me a bit of 1950's Detroit designs. Interestingly enough, the decklid shape is somewhat similar to the "Bangle Butt" 6 Series coupe.

The doors, which make out more than half of the concept's profile, move up and out via hinges along the A- and C-pillars, a system similar to the "butterfly door" concept. This makes for easier entry and exit and it is usually seen on supercars rather than family vehicles.

All told, the Vision Next 100 employs several solutions that aren't likely to make it to production anytime soon, but might become the norm a few decades from now.

Interior

Unlike the exterior, the interior is actually defined by simpler lines. The first thing that catches the eye is the fact that it lacks a center console, which improves legroom in both the front and rear compartments. Then there's the fact that almost the entire roof is made from transparent panels that allow sunlight to enter the cockpit.

The same triangular scale pattern seen on the fenders is present in the cabin as well, on the seats, and the dashboard. While we have no clue whether those on the seats are functional or not, the scales on the dashboard are actually part of the car's safety package and turn red to warn the driver of upcoming hazards. The controller-like steering wheel needs just a few seconds to tuck itself into the dashboard, where the instrument cluster is on a standard vehicle. That's right, the Vision Next 100 doesn't have an instrument cluster, as all the data is displayed via augmented reality, which also gives the driver details about the ideal driving line and steering points.

All this happens if the concept is used in Boost mode, in which the vehicle "focuses on the driver, offering the support needed to maximize the driving experience." In Ease mode, the BMW transforms into a comfortable, self-driving sedan. The steering wheel retracts, the headrests turn to the side, and the seats and door trim merge to form a single unit, allowing the driver and the front-seat passenger to turn toward each other.

BMW doesn't give any details as to what materials were used throughout the interior, but the fit and finish looks top notch. Not that it matters much given this is a futuristic concept, but there's not even an inch of wood in sight. Is BMW predicting that wood will no longer be used in luxury cars in the future?

Drivetrain

Surprisingly enough, BMW had nothing to say about the concept's drivetrain. That's not exactly unusual when it comes to concept cars, but rather awkward for a study that's supposed to give us a glimpse of the future. And, the fact that BMW has been providing the industry with some of the most exciting and innovative drivetrains over the past three decades makes the lack of technical details that much more surprising.

Sure, it's difficult to predict what will power our cars a few decades from now, but as one of the most important automakers in the premium segment, BMW had to take risks and promote an innovative solution. Or at least come with something wild, albeit not exactly doable, just to back the hype around the Vision Next 100's design. If anything, Munich could've previewed some of its upcoming electric drivetrain and battery technology, because electrification is very likely to be part of the auto industry even 100 years from now.

Conclusion

Like most 100-year-old automakers, BMW has had a life with several ups and down. After a successful pre-WWII period, the German brand almost went bankrupt in the 1950s and had to build a range of economy cars in order to stay afloat. The New Class model brought BMW back on its feet by 1963 and the Munich-based company began to expand. By the mid-1980s, it had become one of Europe's most important premium car makers. From 1970 to 1993 turnover increased 18-fold, car production quadrupled, and motorcycle production tripled. Things continued to improved, with the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008 having little impact on the brand. The Vision Next 100 crowns BMW's recent success and gives us a preview of what to expect from the company in the future. We won't be getting fenders that stretch and twist, steering wheels that retract into the instrument panel or fully autonomous vehicles anytime soon, but we can expect BMW to build some of the most exciting and advanced vehicles on the market for decades to come.