Despite the big push to ditch petrol and switch to electric many of us remain unconvinced that the future of motoring is being powered by batteries. But BMW is hoping to change all that. The German car maker has just given the world its first glimpse of the striking new concept car called the Vision Neue Klasse X. This new Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) features a bold new exterior, striking interior and mightily impressive range. In fact, in the time it takes to grab a coffee and a biscuit at a motorway service station, you’ll have enough juice for over 200 further miles of motoring.
Range anxiety continues to be a massive issue for EV owners but batteries are getting better and with BMW now promising 10-minute refills in the future more motorists may feel less concerned about switching away from fuel. Along with those super quick refills, the next striking thing about the Vision Neue Klasse X is its interior which BMW hopes will make you feel more like you’re in a luxury living room than a boring car.
A huge glass roof makes things feel less claustrophobic inside and the rear seats offer an experience a little like a posh sofa. This is a place BMW hopes you’ll want to be during those endless miles on the motorway.
In the front, there’s new Panoramic Vision technology which beams information across the whole lower part of the windscreen.
This means all passengers get to see key information such as weather conditions, time to destination and range. The Panoramic Vision, which is fully customisable, will be backed up by a standard head-up display that only the driver will see.
Another main display also sits neatly on the centre console with BMW promising to reduce the complexity of this screen and make it easier to find menus for heating, entertainment and navigation. Sifting through endless settings just to whack up the fans has become all too familiar in modern cars and it’s something BMW is working hard on addressing in the future. It’s also been given a unique shape to help it blend in better with its minimalistic and eco-friendly surroundings.
Voice controls will also play a big part in this car with BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant able to help control things so you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel.
Other neat features include tiny, drag-reducing, wing mirrors that feature cameras instead of glass and a redesigned steering wheel that’s not only smaller but also offers more controls thanks to easy-to-use multifunction buttons. Everything inside has also been created using plant-based, mineral-based and petroleum-free materials. Maritime plastics have also been included to help boost this vehicle’s eco credentials.
On the outside, there’s BMW’s iconic kidney grille which has been slimmed down and glows in the dark for a more futuristic look.
Clean lines and chiselled bodywork make sure it keeps its BMW X identity whilst the new appearance gives things a modern twist.
Although this is just a “Vision” car for now, BMW is keen to point out that it’s probably not that far away from how its next generation of cars will really look.
“Together with the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X showcases the breadth of our future BMW model line-up,” said Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.
“The Neue Klasse reflects the variety of all models that customers want today and in the future- from sporty sedan, with all its derivatives, to modern SAV family.
“In this way, we are underlining that the Neue Klasse is much more than just a car or a specific concept; it is redefining the BMW brand – and, at the same time, will be more BMW than ever.”
This new car now joins BMW’s other range of “Vision” ideas including the colour-changing i Vision Dee that features panels which can switch the bodywork to new shades at the touch of a button.
