While we’ve begun to become desensitised to reports of car companies culling their more fanciful models in order to fully commit to the inevitably-electric future of mobility, BMW has come about with a rather interesting new concept car that could prove very popular with those of us more concretely set on internal combustion. It’s called the Vision M NEXT, which is very much a concept car at this stage, but could hint at something a little more real.
A series of teaser images preview what BMW says will demonstrate how “intelligent technologies will enhance driving pleasure,” though they’re not teaser images in the more typical sense. It’s explained that the photos are close-up images of artworks created by artist Thomas Demand, depicting shapes and colours that are based off the concept car itself.
One image shows what appears to be the C-pillar of the concept car, which flows smoothly into a rear-mounted vent that sits aft of a side window, which itself sits above the rear wheel arch. This suggests that there’s some sort of power plant in the rear – something that to this day, only the 1978 BMW M1 and current BMW i8 offer.
Another appears to have been taken from a more lofty viewpoint, this time showing a red portion of bodywork that comes round the rump of the car. This could be an indication of the application of M-Division colours, a decent assumption given that ‘M’ is referenced prominently in the name.
While many pundits are suggesting that the Vision M NEXT could preview the replacement to the BMW i8, this writer believes otherwise. BMW’s made it clear that with electrification very much a reality for their M division, the Vision M NEXT could serve as an indicator of how M cars will be set up in the future, marrying the romance of internal combustion with the much-needed green credentials of electrified powertrains. As such, this car could see the light of day as a halo M car rather than a top-flight ‘i’ model; It’ll then take the mantel from the i8 (devised to prove that intelligent, electrified power does not sacrifice driving thrill), and set outright that the M division will march confidently into the future, retaining its all-important driver-focused character without compromise.
But we can only speculate at this point, and will continue to do so up to the Vision M NEXT’s reveal later this month.
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