PressClub Greece · Article.
BMW Group. THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
Thu Jun 16 16:21:57 CEST 2016 Δελτίο τύπου
The BMW Group is celebrating its centenary under the motto “THE NEXT 100 YEARS”. Future orientation and adaptability have always defined the BMW Group’s identity as a company.
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Konstantinos Diamantis
BMW Group
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Author.
Konstantinos Diamantis
BMW Group
BMW Group. THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
The BMW Group's view of the future.
The BMW Group is celebrating its centenary under the
motto “THE NEXT 100 YEARS”. Future orientation and
adaptability have always defined the BMW Group’s
identity as a company. Ever since it was founded in
1916, the BMW Group has played an important role in
shaping the future of mobility. It has done so by
constantly reinventing itself, evolving from an aircraft
engine manufacturer to a motorcycle producer and then a
carmaker. Today the BMW Group encompasses the BMW, MINI,
BMW Motorrad and Rolls-Royce brands, as well as a large
number of mobility services and BMW Financial Services.
Throughout its history the company has placed its
sights firmly on the future and this has become embedded
in the BMW Group’s DNA. So for the Centenary it is
natural that the Group is focusing primarily on looking
to the future and sharing its vision of personal
mobility two or three decades from now.
It is both exciting and challenging to imagine how
we will live and move around in the future: how will
society, the economy, living conditions – and therefore
mobility – change? What possibilities will new
technologies open up? How will digitalisation and
connectivity affect our automotive needs?
To answer these questions, the BMW Group has
formulated six central hypotheses for individual
mobility in the coming decades, based on key megatrends
and future projections.
-
Mobility is becoming versatile.
New forms of mobility will open up countless possibilities for people to get where they want to go. The BMW Group aims to play a part in shaping these future forms of mobility. -
Connectivity is becoming second nature.
In the future, everything will be connected. The BMW Group firmly believes that digitalisation and digital intelligence are meant to serve people. That is the only way they will permanently enhance our quality of life. -
Mobility is becoming tailor-made.
Mobility will be increasingly flexible and tailored to individual needs. In the future, customised mobility will automatically ensure that people are able to use the best means of transport and take their preferred route to their destination. The BMW Group will offer carefully coordinated products and services to achieve this. -
Technology is becoming human.
Technologies are getting smarter. The BMW Group believes that innovations are only beneficial to humans if they are simple and user-friendly. In its vision, technologies must be able to learn from and adapt to people, so that technology seems less technical and more human and familiar. -
Energy is becoming emission-free.
In the future, energy will increasingly come from renewable sources. The BMW Group has a clear vision of environmentally-compatible vehicles built using renewable energies and recycled without generating emissions. It is working towards becoming a wholly sustainable company. -
Responsibility is becoming diverse.
In the future, it will become even more important for global companies like the BMW Group to take responsibility for the environment, but also for the people directly or indirectly in its sphere of activity. One aspect – concerning both the company’s international workforce of more than 100 different nationalities and people connected with its various locations – is to promote intercultural exchange and improve lives. The BMW Group already supports more than 200 environmental and social projects in over 42 countries engaging in various projects involving its associates and local communities to maximize its impact in the future. (To find out more about Corporate and Intercultural Responsibility at the BMW Group, visit the PressClub at: www.bmwgroup.com/responsibility).
These six focus areas comprise the BMW Group’s view of
the future. They also form the basis and inspiration for
the design of the Vision Vehicles the company is
unveiling to the public to mark its centenary.
Each BMW Group brand interprets the mobility of
the future in a way that reflects its own particular values:
The BMW VISION NEXT 100 provides a glimpse of what
“Sheer Driving Pleasure” could look like in the future.
The MINI VISION NEXT 100 offers a completely
individualised, permanently available form of urban mobility.
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 epitomises bespoke
automotive luxury.
Future riding pleasure with the BMW Motorrad
VISION NEXT 100 promises limitless freedom.
BMW Group’s VISION NEXT 100 VEHICLES.
BMW VISION NEXT 100: “Sheer Driving Pleasure” of the future – what will it look like?
In the not-too-distant future, most vehicles will
probably be completely self-driving – people will get
around in robots on wheels. So, given these
developments, how will we justify the existence of
vehicles by BMW, a brand for whom the individual and
Sheer Driving Pleasure are the focus of everything? And
how will BMW’s brand values translate into the future?
In developing the BMW VISION NEXT 100, the main
objective was to create not an anonymous vehicle but one
that is highly personalised and fully geared to meet the
driver’s every need – because the very emotional
connection between a BMW and its driver is something we
want to retain. For the BMW VISION NEXT 100, the design
team specifically took into account all the trends and
technological developments that will be most relevant to
BMW in the decades ahead. But they also took many of
their cues from innovations and designs of the past. The
key factor throughout, however, was something that has
always been typical of the BMW brand: the desire to be
uncompromising in its future focus on technologies and
customer value.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design:
“If, as a designer, you are able to imagine something,
there’s a good chance it could one day become reality.
So our objective with the BMW VISION NEXT 100 was to
develop a future scenario that people would engage with.
Technology is going to make significant advances,
opening up fantastic new possibilities that will allow
us to offer the driver even more assistance for an even
more intense driving experience. My personal view is
that technology should be as intuitive as possible to
operate and experience so that future interactions
between human, machine and surroundings become seamless.
The BMW VISION NEXT 100 shows how we intend to shape
this future.”
Four Proposals underpinning the BMW VISION NEXT 100:
A genuine BMW is always driver-focused.
In recent months and years, the greatest current trend in the automotive industry has become so widespread that it’s no longer a question of “if” but “when”: autonomous driving. The BMW Group also believes that BMW drivers will be able to let their cars do the work – but only when the driver wants. The BMW VISION NEXT 100 remains a genuine BMW, offering an intense experience of Sheer Driving Pleasure.
Artificial intelligence and intuitive technology become one.
Moving into the future, vehicles will be fully connected and digital technology will become so normal that it will permeate almost every area of our lives. Increasing digitisation will lead to the physical and digital worlds merging more and more. Artificial intelligence will learn from us, anticipating many of our wishes and working in the background to perform the jobs we delegate to it. The way humans and technologies interact will be transformed: screens and touchscreens will be replaced by more intuitive forms of human-machine communication and interaction. Better yet: technology will become more human.
New materials open up breathtaking opportunities.
In the future, how will cars be manufactured? At some point, presses that punch out hundreds of thousands of steel parts may well become obsolete - the use of carbon may already be a first indication of the sea-change that is imminent in the world of automotive materials and production. Technologies such as rapid manufacturing and 4D printing will produce not components or objects but intelligent, networked materials and could soon replace conventional tools to open up unimagined possibilities in design and engineering.
Mobility will remain an emotional experience.
Vehicles by BMW have never been purely utilitarian or merely a means of getting from one place to the next. Far more, a BMW is about looking to the next bend in the road, feeling the power of the engine and enjoying the sense of speed; it’s about the sensory experience, the adrenaline rush or that intimate moment at which a journey begins, be it for a lone driver or one travelling with a close friend or loved one. Moving into the future, that’s not set to change – because the emotional experience of mobility is firmly fixed in our collective corporate memory. By keeping the driver firmly in the foreground, the BMW VISION NEXT 100 will heighten this emotional experience in an unprecedented way.
BMW VISION NEXT 100: A vehicle for future mobility.
- From driver to “Ultimate Driver” – through digital intelligence
- “Alive Geometry” enables intuitive driver-vehicle interaction
- “Boost” and “Ease” driving modes enable driver- or vehicle-controlled operation
- “Companion”: The intelligent digital partner connects driver and car
- Trademark BMW exterior
- Materials of the future
From driver to Ultimate Driver – through digital intelligence.
In the future, BMW drivers will still want to spend
most of the time they are in their car at the wheel. In
the BMW VISION NEXT 100, the driver will remain firmly
in the focus, with constant connectivity, digital
intelligence and state-of-the-art technologies available
for support. But that’s not all: the BMW VISION NEXT 100
will turn the driver into the Ultimate Driver. So even
though the world may well be changing, Sheer Driving
Pleasure is here to stay – and will be more intense than
ever before.
In designing the BMW VISION NEXT 100, the starting
point was the interior. In the years ahead, the driver’s
wellbeing will become increasingly important and rather
than merely feeling they are in a machine that drives
itself, they should sense that they are sitting in one
that was specifically designed for them. This idea gave
rise to an architecture in which the interior appears
extremely spacious given the overall size of the
vehicle; the BMW VISION NEXT 100, of course, retains the
instantly recognisable athletic silhouette of a BMW saloon.
The design of the interior permits various modes
of operation: Boost mode, in which the driver is at the
controls, and Ease mode, in which the driver can sit
back and let the vehicle take over. In Ease, the vehicle
becomes a place of retreat with plenty of space,
agreeable lighting and a comfortable atmosphere. In
Boost, the driver takes over and benefits from the
subtle and intuitive support offered by the vehicle. All
the time, the vehicle is learning more and more about
the person at the wheel, thanks to its sensory and
digital intelligence which the BMW Group calls the
Companion. The Companion progressively learns to offer
the right kind of support to transform the driver into
the Ultimate Driver.
A very important element of the Vision Vehicle is
another innovation known as Alive Geometry, the likes of
which have never before been seen in a car. It consists
of a kind of three-dimensional sculpture that works both
inside and outside the vehicle.
Alive Geometry enables driver-vehicle interaction.
Alive Geometry consists of almost 800 moving triangles
inside the cabin which are set into the instrument panel
and into certain areas of the side panels. They work in
three dimensions, communicating very directly with the
driver through their movements, which are more like
gestures than two-dimensional depictions on a display.
Even the slightest peripheral movement is perceptible to
the driver. In combination with the Head-Up display,
Alive Geometry uniquely fuses the analogue with the digital.
The triangles work in much the same way a flock of
birds in controlled flight, their coordinated movements
act as signals that are easily comprehensible to those
inside the car. Combined with the Head-Up display, they
involve the driver in a form of preconscious
communication, where an intuitive signal predicts an
imminent real-time event. Various approaches can already
be seen today that appear to confirm the feasibility of
this solution. Rapid prototyping and rapid
manufacturing, for example, are gaining importance all
the time and are expected to be commonplace 30 years
from now, meaning that in the future it will become
feasible to produce far more complex and flexible forms.
This is why in the context of the BMW VISION NEXT 100,
the BMW Group refers to 4D printing, a process which
adds a fourth level to components: the functional one.
In the years ahead, printed parts manufactured in this
way will directly integrate functions which today have
to be designed and produced separately before being
incorporated into the whole.
At the moment, the digital world is strongly
linked to displays; the next step will be organic LEDs,
in other words, displays that can be shaped and
contoured. However the Vision Vehicle suggests there
will at some point be no more displays at all. Instead
the entire windscreen will serve as a giant display,
directly in front of the driver. In the future the
digital and physical worlds will merge, as shown with
the example of the Alive Geometry and its interaction
with the digital Head-Up display on the windscreen.
Boost and Ease driving modes for driver- or vehicle-controlled operations.
In Boost and Ease mode alike, the elements and
technologies of the vehicle make for the most intense or
relaxed driving experience, depending on what is
required. Transitioning between modes is impressive and
perfectly orchestrated, and Alive Geometry remains
relevant throughout. In Boost, when the driver is
concentrating fully on the road, Alive Geometry
highlights the ideal driving line or possible turning
point and warns of oncoming vehicles. Rather than making
the driver drive faster, this kind of support sets out
to make them drive noticeably better. In addition,
intuitive feedback has a more physical and immediate
impact than a robotic voice or instructions on a screen.
In Ease mode, on the other hand, Alive Geometry is more
discreet in its movements, informing occupants about the
road ahead and any acceleration and braking manoeuvres
that are about to happen.
In Boost mode, the entire vehicle focuses on the
driver, offering intelligent support to maximize the
driving experience. The seat and steering wheel change
position, and the centre console moves to become more
strongly oriented toward the driver. As the journey
proceeds, the driver can interact with the vehicle via
gesture control.
The contact analogue BMW Head-Up display of the
future uses the entire windscreen to communicate with
the driver. In Boost mode, it focuses exclusively on
what really matters to the driver: information such as
the ideal line, turning-point and speed. In addition,
full connectivity, intelligent sensors and permanent
data exchange allow the Head-Up display to generate a
digital image of the vehicle’s surroundings. In foggy
conditions, for example, this means the driver can
benefit from information such as vehicles crossing
ahead, before they actually come into sight. In
addition, by learning more and more about the driver,
the system continuously improves, concentrating on
creating at all times the most intense and personal
driving experience possible.
The transition to Ease mode brings about a
complete change of interior ambience. The steering wheel
and centre console retract and the headrests move to one
side to create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. The
seats and door panels merge to form a single unit,
allowing the driver and passengers to sit at a slight
angle. This makes it easier for them to face each other
and sit in a more relaxed position for easier
communications. Meanwhile, the Head-Up display offers
occupants personalised content along with the
information and entertainment they desire.
Depending on the driving mode, the focus of the
vehicle changes, concentrating on essentials for the
driver in Boost mode, and the surroundings and
atmosphere in Ease mode, highlighting the impressive
landscapes or buildings of interest that the car is
passing by, for instance.
Whether the vehicle is in Boost or Ease mode is
also clearly apparent to other road users as the
trademark kidney grille, double headlights and L-shaped
rear lights act as communication tool. Their different
colours of light indicate which mode the vehicle is
currently in.
Companion: The intelligent digital partner connects driver and car.
The Companion is symbolised by a small sculptural
element which represents the driver-vehicle connection.
Shaped like a large, cut gemstone, it is positioned in
the centre of the dashboard, just beneath the
windscreen, where it symbolises the intelligence,
connectivity and availability of the BMW VISION NEXT
100. It also represents the constant exchange of data:
the more it learns about the owner and their mobility
habits, the smarter it becomes. At some stage it knows
its drivers well enough to automatically perform routine
tasks for them and offer suitable advice when needed.
Irrespective of the vehicle itself, constant learning
makes the Companion increasingly valuable to its owner.
The Companion also plays an important role in
driver-vehicle communications when the car transitions
from Boost to Ease mode. While the driver concentrates
on the road in Boost mode, the Companion remains flat in
the dashboard. But when the BMW VISION NEXT 100 takes
control in Ease, it rises up to create an interface with
the windscreen. A signal light tells the driver that the
car is ready for fully autonomous driving. For other
road users, the Companion has a similar function,
signalling through its own light as well as that of the
vehicle that the car is operating in automated mode. In
certain traffic situations, the Companion is in visual
contact with other road users, helping pedestrians to
cross the road by means of the green light gradient on
the front of the vehicle.
Trademark BMW exterior.
The design of the BMW Vision Vehicle is characterised
by a blend of coupé-type sportiness and the dynamic
elegance of a sedan. At 4.90 meters long and 1.37 meters
high, it has compact exterior dimensions. Inside,
however, it has the dimensions of a luxury BMW sedan.
The large wheels are positioned at the outer edges
of the body, giving the vehicle the dynamic stance that
is a trademark of BMW. When it comes to aerodynamics,
exterior Alive Geometry contributes to an outstanding
effect: when the wheels swivel as the vehicle is
steered, the bodywork keeps them covered as if it were a
flexible skin, accommodating their various positions.
The innovative design of the BMW VISION NEXT 100 gives
it an extremely low drag coefficient of 0.18.
The exterior of the vehicle is copper in colour,
designed to underscore the idea that BMW vehicles of the
future should appear technical yet still have a warmth
about them – as symbolised by the close links between
the vehicle and its driver.
This relationship begins as soon as the driver
approaches the vehicle: intelligent sensor technologies
automatically open its wing doors. To give the driver
more space to enter and exit, the steering wheel is
flush with the dashboard. Once seated, the full range of
systems is activated by tapping on the BMW logo in the
middle of the dashboard. The door closes, the steering
wheel comes forward, and the driving experience begins.
Materials of the future.
The designers of the BMW VISION NEXT 100 primarily used
fabrics made from recycled or renewable materials. The
visible and non-visible carbon components, such as the
side panels, are made from residues from normal carbon
fibre production. In the future, the choice of materials
will become even more important throughout the design
and production process.
With time, other new materials will also be added
into the mix, allowing different vehicle shapes to
emerge. To save resources and support more sustainable
manufacturing, less use will be made of wood and leather
while innovative materials and the consequent new
possibilities in design and production gradually come to
the fore. This approach is already being exemplified by
the use of high-quality textiles and easily recyclable
mono-materials and the elimination of leather in the
interior of the BMW VISION NEXT 100.
MINI VISION NEXT 100: “Every MINI is my MINI”.
Today’s MINI is the perfect premium compact car for the
modern city. Digitalisation and connectivity are
increasingly changing the way we get around on a daily
basis – and this change is taking place most rapidly and
noticeably in urban areas. The MINI VISION NEXT 100 is
MINI’s answer to several key questions on urban mobility
over the years ahead. In the cities of the future, will
there be space for a car which engages at an emotional
level? What will become of the “clever use of space”
principle that underpins MINI? And how can MINI respond
to a world becoming ever more digitalised and interconnected?
The core philosophy behind the MINI VISION NEXT
100 is the thoughtful use of the planet’s resources in
providing personal mobility. The motto “Every MINI is my
MINI” describes a particular take on car-sharing. In the
future, fans of the brand will be able to call on a MINI
tailored to their personal requirements where ever they
are, day or night. The MINI of the future will be
available 24/7, able to pick its driver up from their
desired location in a fully automated way and will adapt
itself to the driver’s individual tastes, interests and
preferences. At the heart of this concept is fully
connected digital intelligence.
Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW
Group Design, describes MINI’s vision for the future:
“MINI looks to offer smart and bespoke mobility in
cities that engages all the senses. And in the future,
you might not actually have to own a vehicle to enjoy
the benefits.”
Clever approaches to future mobility with MINI:
- “Digitally Mine” – where every MINI becomes my MINI
- The “Cooperizer”: a link between the driver and digital intelligence
- “Urban go-kart”: small, clever, nimble. The hallmark driving fun of a MINI will remain intact in the years ahead
- Novel use of sustainable materials in the interior
- Experience sharing – users become part of a MINI community
“Digitally mine” – where every MINI becomes my MINI.
In the future, as now, people will be attracted in
great numbers to MINI cars and the attitude to life
associated with them. But it may not actually be
necessary to own a MINI to be part of the action. The
design team’s challenge: how could a MINI be widely and
instantly adaptable – making the driver feel it is their
car, tailored precisely to their own taste – available
whenever and wherever they need it?
The MINI VISION NEXT 100 is wrapped in a discreet,
silver skin. The MINI designers refer to it as a “blank
canvas”. How that canvas is used varies according to the
individual user, their mood and the situations they
encounter. Even the colour of the roof and the lighting
mood in the interior respond in kind. The MINI uses
projections adapted to the driver in terms of colour,
graphics and content to create a personalised experience
and customised package of on-board information.
The Cooperizer forms a connection between the driver and digital intelligence.
The Cooperizer is the name the MINI VISION NEXT 100 gives to the centrally-positioned circular instrument that has become such a signature feature of MINI cockpits. In the MINI VISION NEXT 100 it illuminates like a kaleidoscope. The colours and patterns it generates symbolise the car’s multi-faceted digital intelligence, which allows it to select a personalised setting for each driver, encompassing entertainment, communications and autonomous-driving options. On the move, the driver can influence the Cooperizer’s decision-making, as the rotary controls allow adjustments to the interior ambience and driving mode. So the car can be adapted to give a perfectly personalised driving experience, whether driven conventionally or autonomously. Pressing the “Inspire Me” button brings another special Cooperizer trick into play. Here, the MINI checks downloaded user data to select information of interest to the driver and provide them with potential sources of inspiration. For example, the MINI VISION NEXT 100 might suggest the MINI set-up configured for an artist the driver admires and whose exhibition they have recently visited. Or it could recommend a challenging, twisting route to the outskirts of town and switch to John Cooper Works performance mode.
The urban go-kart – small, clever, nimble. MINI will continue to offer the driving fun we know and love in the future.
In the future, driving in a MINI must still be fun, to
the extent that drivers will prefer to drive themselves
– as often as possible. The mechanical experience of
speed and the feeling of nipping swiftly through twists
and turns are part of what makes a MINI a MINI. But it
doesn’t stop there. In a future world of self-driving
cars, this side of motoring may have an even more
significant, even more special role. Various aspects of
the MINI VISION NEXT 100 will take the go-kart feeling
to another new level. Cleared of many controls and
screens, the interior has a pure, uncluttered look. And
the glass front end opens up a dynamic view of the road.
Here, augmented reality displays show the route or ideal
driving line, heightening the driving sensation.
In addition to these dynamic elements, dreaming up
clever details and creating maximum interior space
within the smallest possible footprint are other MINI
essentials. The efficiently-packaged, zero-emission
drive system and the reduced need for crash zones in the
future enable a compactness of body not so far removed
from the first MINI back in 1959. The generous feeling
of cabin space is enhanced by a full-width bench seat
and pedals that slide with the steering wheel to adjust
their position. The steering wheel is always there, but
the option remains, to ask the car to drive itself;
perhaps there are things you’d rather do during a
journey when the driving environment is tedious.
Autonomous driving plays an important role in the
MINI VISION NEXT 100, allowing it to travel
occupant-free to a charging station, cleaning service,
parking space or the next user. To switch from driving
themselves to autonomous driving, the driver simply
moves the steering wheel into the central area between
themselves and the front passenger. In the process,
those on board enjoy greater freedom of movement and
getting in and out of the car in busy city centres is
that much easier. The single-section bench seat and a
full-width footwell, uninterrupted by a centre console,
also help this, allowing passengers to gain rapid access
from both sides of the car – without having to decide in
advance where they would prefer to sit. When dynamic
driving is the order of the day, active elements within
the seat provide lateral support for the driver and
front passenger. Park the car in a tight spot, and the
doors automatically open as wide as possible within the
restricted confines.
Innovative use of sustainable materials.
Making responsible use of resources is key in the
selection of materials for the MINI VISION NEXT 100.
These materials should retain their high level of
perceived quality over many years, age stylishly and
offer a special tactile experience. As digitisation
increases, analogue qualities and experiences will
become more important. With the more intensive use of a
shared car, interiors will need to be much more hard
wearing. In addition to the modern materials made from
recycled plastic and aluminium in the floor area, roof
lining and side panel trim, for example, the MINI
interior designers used materials less commonly found in
car cabins, such as brass, basalt and cellulose. The
wraparound carrier and information strip, with its mount
for the sliding steering wheel, and the Cooperizer with
its thin brass structure are good examples here.
The designers made the storage net behind the
steering wheel from lightweight basalt, while the lower
section of the seat is trimmed in a recycled cellulose
material similar to paper. This novel use of materials
included deliberately allowing a patina to develop
through use and ensuring they retain along-lasting and
sophisticated appearance. When it comes to the natural
look and feel of surfaces, the designers have embraced
the irregularities inherent in the chosen materials and
processing methods. That also applies to the seat covers
in knitted Alcantara – a robust, somewhat iridescent
material. The designers have steered clear of
traditional interior materials like wood and leather
altogether. Another example of analogue design in the
MINI Vision Vehicle can be found in the wheels, whose
rotation generates an “Ombro Cinema” effect: This
involves the outer surface of the wheel not moving and
only a disc behind it turning with the tyre. The even
movement of a shimmering graphic – again brass-coloured
– can be observed through openings in the outside of the
wheel. The idea is for each wheel to look like a piece
of a mechanical jewellery.
Experience sharing – the user becomes part of a MINI community.
Sharing cars, homes and goods is ever-more common, as
digitalisation, connectivity and artificial intelligence
make processes simpler and more automated. The MINI
VISION NEXT 100 can bring together a community of
likeminded people, with a shared MINI lifestyle in
common. Everybody benefits from everybody. And mobility
opens up inspirational experiences yet stands by its
sustainable approach and prudent use of resources.
For example, a MINI user in the future is
interested in a certain type of art and a friend gets
hold of some last-minute tickets to a preview for an
exhibition they might like. The Vision Vehicle
identifies what’s involved, and coordinates and
organises the whole excursion. The drive itself becomes
part of a perfectly arranged service. MINI calls this
vision of the future experience sharing.
Head of MINI Design Anders Warming sums up the
most important aspects of the car: “The MINI VISION NEXT
100 shows how MINI’s unique take on the world could look
in the future. The driving experience remains the
emotional centrepiece, with effortless and seamless
services grouped around it.”
Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100.
Rolls-Royce epitomises automotive luxury in a way that
no other brand can. Founded in 1904, its products rose
to pre-eminence around the world in a matter of years –
in keeping with Sir Henry Royce’s motto: “Strive for
perfection in everything you do. Take the best that
exists and make it better. When it doesn’t exist, design it.”
Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design: “In
celebration of this pioneering spirit, the Rolls-Royce
VISION NEXT 100 has been designed as the ultimate
expression of the future of super-luxury mobility. It is
an enlightening vision of the fascinating possibilities
of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the future.”
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 is the first
purely visionary vehicle in the 112-year history of the marque.
In creating it, the team focused on the following questions:
- What is the future of luxury?
- How might the exclusive character of a Rolls-Royce translate into the future?
- How will the demands of the Rolls-Royce clientele change? And how might Rolls-Royce even exceed their expectations in its constant quest for perfection?
- Could other traditional Rolls-Royce characteristics – such as precise craftsmanship, a pioneering spirit and a love for perfection – combined with future technologies and trends set new standards for luxury in decades to come?
- How can we ensure a journey in a Rolls-Royce remains as unique an experience in the future as it is today?
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars already realises the most
diverse customer wishes and offers virtually unlimited
scope for personalising its vehicles. Over the years and
decades ahead, however, the opportunities will become
even more extensive, and customers will be able to
commission their personal Rolls-Royce into a genuine
one-off piece. In terms of technology, the Rolls-Royce
VISION NEXT 100 is based on an advanced lightweight
platform equipped with a high-performance electric
drive. From the wheelbase to the design of the body, its
various specifications and equipment can be tailored
specifically to suit the needs of the individual customer.
The Rolls-Royce design team expects that further
progress in composite materials and technologies will
have a decisive influence on how production can be
customised in the future. Advances will also unlock new
creative possibilities for the brand to meet the
discerning wishes of its customers and achieve its goal
of producing the bespoke automotive equivalent of haute couture.
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 incorporates just
some of the design options that will be possible in the future.
It focuses on the following key aspects of a new dimension of automotive luxury:
- The “Personal Vision”: One of a limitless number of possible personal visions of a Rolls-Royce of the future
- The “Grand Sanctuary”: The vehicle interior as a private retreat
- The “Effortless Journey”: Guided by “Eleanor”, the passenger’s virtual assistant.
- The “Grand Arrival”: Stepping out at your destination in ultimate elegance.
The Personal Vision: One of a limitless number of possible personal visions of a Rolls-Royce of the future.
The Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 is but one of a
limitless number of possible personal visions of a
Rolls-Royce of the future. Indeed, in an evolution of
the Rolls-Royce experience of today, the customer’s
taste will shape exactly how his or her Rolls-Royce will
look and how it will be configured.
In the spirit of the great coachbuilt cars of the
past, Rolls-Royce will create the chassis of the future,
hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered
by a zero emissions powertrain. Innovative manufacturing
technologies will enable customers to involve themselves
in the style and proportion of their personal
Rolls-Royce vision. They will be able to commission
their very own cars shaped by Rolls-Royce designers to
their personal tastes – unique bespoke masterpieces
curated as a fingerprint of their owner.
The Grand Sanctuary – The vehicle interior as a private retreat.
In a Rolls-Royce, the well-being and desires of the
occupants are all-important. For this reason, the design
of the interior is the central starting point: it is
intended as a space in which passengers can enjoy their
very own style of luxury. The vehicle interior becomes a
personal retreat.
In creating the interior, the designers opted for
a clear-cut hierarchy of lines, as well as sustainable,
authentic materials and subtle lighting. These combine
to create a peaceful oasis, the ideal atmosphere in
which to relax.
With this approach, the designers were able to
create an inviting, purist space in which the intrinsic
beauty of the materials shines through. The Rolls-Royce
VISION NEXT 100, for instance, incorporates warm tone
Macassar wood, a carpet of hand-twisted silk on the
floor and further extraordinarily soft silk on the upholstery.
In the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 a panorama
window of generous proportions provides outstanding
visibility. Designed to “waft” along fully autonomously,
the driver’s seat, steering wheel and instruments are
superfluous in this model; what remains is a completely
new sense of space. Cocooned in their own private haven,
passengers have just a central analogue timepiece below
the panorama window as a reminder that time not lost is
the highest form of luxury.
The Effortless Journey: Guided by Eleanor, the passenger’s virtual assistant.
In creating the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100, the designers also sought to keep the presence of technologies as subdued as possible while at the same time ensuring full connectivity. The vehicle is controlled by a virtual intelligence which fulfils the passenger’s every need. This virtual assistant is embodied in a digital representation of the Spirit of Ecstasy, which appears on the full-width transparent OLED display. It is named after Eleanor Thornton, the model who inspired sculptor Charles Robert Sykes’ iconic Rolls-Royce bonnet ornament. The more time Eleanor spends on the road with a passenger, the more she learns about their interests and needs – their favourite restaurants, tastes in art and favourite routes, for instance – and about the preferences and desires of all the other vehicle occupants as well, of course. Using speech interaction, the passengers can call upon her services to tailor their journey as desired.
The Grand Arrival – Stepping out at your destination in ultimate elegance.
From the outside, the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 is a
vision of timeless aesthetics. Measuring 5.9 m in
length, its silhouette radiates powerful elegance. At
the same time, its coupé-style forms and the
free-standing wheel arches on either side of the
Pantheon radiator grille lend dynamism and lightness to
its outward appearance.
The elegance and lightness of the body is further
underscored by the paintwork “Crystal Water” and the
Spirit of Ecstasy, made from hand-cut lead crystal and
illuminated from inside.
Thanks to its impressive exterior design, the
Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 will attract attention
wherever it arrives. Its charismatic presence is further
enhanced by the way the passengers alight: in a generous
gesture, the roof and coach door open to reveal the
interior of the vehicle. Passengers simply stand up and
gracefully step out. The spectacle is additionally
underscored by light projections, which create a “red
carpet” showing the way out and turn every arrival into
a Grand Arrival.
Should the need arise, two umbrellas integrated
into the doors are available to protect passengers from
the elements. Rolls-Royce bespoke luggage can be stowed
in the front of the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100, where
there is ample storage space. An intelligent mechanism
opens a hatch in the side of the car and presents the
luggage to the waiting hands of the porter.
Giles Taylor, Design Director Rolls-Royce Motor
Cars: “With the Rolls-Royce VISION NEXT 100 we were very
mindful not to dwell on the past. We wanted to be as
innovative as possible and at the same time transcend
the design history of the marque.”