Although it didn’t build its first automobile until 1928 and its first motorcycle until 1923,BMW 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 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.
