The BMW i Vision Circular concept is controversial for yet another look at the once sacred corporate grille.
It's just a concept for now, but every detail of the BMW i Vision Circular, from the roof to the tires to the interior, is recyclable.
BMW unveiled the non-manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) concept as the automaker's centerpiece at this year's IAA Munich, boasting commendable environmental performance including 100 percent recyclability and zero-emissions power, as well as completely new look. for a German brand.
Called the i Vision Circular and only slightly larger than the existing BMW i3 sunroof, it is a representation (hence the word "vision") of what a premium family car will look like around 2040.
However, as futuristic as it is, the four-foot-tall, four-seat monospace electric car also appears to be influenced by 1980s Memphis Design motifs as well as 40-year-old autumn hues.
As with recent BMW releases such as the upcoming iX and i4 EVs, the IAA Concept's face is divisive, with all of the lighting elements encased in a full-length grille - albeit this time in a horizontal rather than vertical plane. about. The glass panel also serves as backlighting.
While BMW design director Adrian van Hooydonk revealed that some of the i Vision Circular parts will find their way into some production models in the near future, his boss, BMW chairman Oliver Zipse, stressed that this is not a "foretaste" of the long-awaited "Neue Klasse" platform. , announced earlier this year.
The debut is scheduled for 2025. This is an all-new EV-priority internal combustion engine architecture that is expected to underpin the next-generation 3 Series/X3 models and their offshoots. In the BMW universe, "Neue Klasse" is a historical shorthand for a break with tradition, as it applied to the then radical 1962 1500 line that saved the company from bankruptcy and shaped its reputation as a manufacturer of sports sedans.
Coming back to the present, i Vision Circular's main takeaway is its industry-leading sustainability, as everything from its concept and manufacturing processes to the finished car revolves around doing more harm to the planet.
Adhering to what BMW calls a "circular economy" philosophy, it includes an unpainted aluminum body with an anodized bronze finish, the absence of traditional "decorations" such as chrome, the introduction of high energy density solid state battery technology (unfortunately, that's all the company should say so at this point) and even specially made natural rubber tires.
Access via i3-style external hinged "portal" doors allows for a completely recyclable ultra-minimal cabin that is completely neutral in its environmental impact, up to the point where end-of-life dismantling requirements are met with non-toxic adhesives and easy-release one-piece fasteners. to facilitate removal. The seat upholstery has a mauve velvety texture.
There's also a square steering wheel, a floating instrument panel adorned with natural wood and crystal elements that look like a glacier that's swallowed up a disco dance floor, but no dials or visible switchgear. BMW uses the term "phygital" (combination of physical and digital) to describe the feel of using an electronic interface.
In addition, all gauges, vehicle data and multimedia information are displayed on the bottom strip of the massive windshield and are fully customizable, taking a back seat to Mercedes' latest 1.4m hyperscreen technology used in the EQS and EQC.
While much of what we see today in i Vision Circular remains in the realm of fantasy for now, the aim of the concept is to convince the public that carbon neutrality is the new must-have luxury of the future.
“Premium requires responsibility – and that is what BMW stands for,” said Zipse.
