Wednesday 6th August 2014

BMW Vision Future Luxury US debut

Where else to show America a big sedan than Pebble Beach?

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Rather shamefully, the BMW Vision Future Luxury hasn't yet made PH news since its recent first show at Beijing. Quite a looker, isn't it?

No engine details yet but eDrive implies hybrid

It draws on the gorgeous Gran Lusso concept from Villa d'Este last year and offers 'a glimpse into the long-term view of modern luxury for the BMW brand'. The looks serve a benefit too, the coupe roofline and sloping bootlid contributing to reduced drag. And of course the familiar BMW design cues (the kidney grille, twin headlights) are included.

But a large luxury saloon is as much about inside as outside, and BMW is well aware of that. It's again pretty special. The rear is laid out for two people with a retractable table, angled rear seat displays and 'lavish wood surfaces'. Those passengers also get detachable 'Rear Seat Touch Command Tablets', which can show journey stats, control infotainment and display Luxury Concierge Services information. The what? There isn't much information on the concierge service yet other than it can be used to, just as an example, book opera tickets online. Gives you some idea.

Thought the kidney grille was going too subtle?

Carbon is used throughout the construction of the Future Luxury's cabin, most notably in the barely B-pillar. Spotted it? Look cools, and makes getting in and out much easier.

That BMW details the exterior lighting (Laserlight at the front, organic LEDs behind) rather than a powertrain indicates the Vision Future Luxury very much previews a large BMW of a few years hence rather than the new 7 Series. Still, even if that incorporates a few of the Future Luxury's design cues (and the Concierge Services, of course) then things look good. Pebble Beach will surely love it.

 

[Kawasicki]

fwd or rwd? Need to check.

[hornetrider]

Like. Lots.

[Slb89]

can see lots of nice little styling cues from the i8.

[Lost soul]

great looking monster barge

[dlockhart]

It will be "Very big in China", in more ways than one

[theJT]

So, what do we all think then - next 8 series?

[Prawnboy]

i like a barge....
...that should be the rear of the current 5 series, actually looks interesting.

[oldtimer2]

It looks as though it is only missing a built-in butler.

[will261058]

Lovely outside and in the back but the front interior doesnt do it for me. I was pleased when BMW went back to a 4 dial instrument pod for the F10 after the E60/90 went down to two and would prefer to see it stay that way. i like plenty of things to look at on a dash rather than the minimalist thing.

[redtwin]

No-one at BMW heard about the Maybach and it's fate?.

[P4ROT]

Looks fantastic to my eye and considering how the i8 turned out I have confidence that BMW could actually delivery something similar.

[jimbop1]

redtwin said:

No-one at BMW heard about the Maybach and it's fate?.

Ever heard of a phantom?

[Triumph Man]

will261058 said:

Lovely outside and in the back but the front interior doesnt do it for me. I was pleased when BMW went back to a 4 dial instrument pod for the F10 after the E60/90 went down to two and would prefer to see it stay that way. i like plenty of things to look at on a dash rather than the minimalist thing.

Bring back the MPG dial!

Also, I like this a lot, but that grille is huge! Perhaps a more elegant headlight into slim kidney ala E30/E34/E32 would work?

[TheEnd]

Looks tidy, and not crazy enough that it'll never get built, although it wouldn't surprise me if it gets redesigned to look duller before it hits any markets.

[smilo996]

What's a sedan? Has PH gone to the US suddenly y'all OMG LOL.

The side looks great, sweeping lines, integration from front to back and doors interesting though unlikely (?) surely. That airliner winglet looks bizarre. For catching cyclists?

The front and back look like renderings that have had the horisontal axis increased to 140% of the original width. The lights might offend some nationalities. The front grill looks comical but is chic these days.



The designer was clearly on cat nip when using the align radii tool in AutoCAD.

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[MyCC]

Looks like the new Lagonda concept?

Regards,

MyCC

[g3org3y]

Looks good. Wheels are a bit fussy.

[BBL-Sean]

For such a large vehicle, those side mirrors look awfully small! I may have to swing down to Carmel/Monterey next week to check this out (and others).

[mrmr96]

g3org3y said:

Looks good. Wheels are a bit fussy.

Aye, they'll be a bugger to clean. However I don't see the first owner doing the cleaning himself very often. He'll have a man for that!

[lamboman100]

BMW is pushing further upmarket. They are in a real sweet spot right now.