BMW Uncovers Latest Autonomous Car on Lufthansa Flight
Journalists received an exciting preview of BMW’s Vision iNEXT concept car via ‘BMW World Flight,’ which debuted the car in a cargo plane.
Electric vehicle technology and autonomous technology are closer than ever, and BMW is ramping up the excitement with their iNEXT concept according to Forbes. Although the iNEXT name has been on a few of BMW’s concept cars before, this one is unique in the way that it is being presented to the world.
Instead of a flock of journalists heading to an international auto show for a debut, BMW teams up with Lufthansa to bring the excitement all around the globe with BMW’s World Flight. Utilizing a Boeing 777 freighter cargo plane, BMW has converted the interior into a show stage, with videos and animations to tease the yet-to-debut concept.
BMW would be able to get this flying press release to over 300 journalists within just a few days. In total, four stops took place; Munich, New York, San Francisco, and Beijing.
Previews of the new iNEXT included some shadowy shots of the front and rear, replete with backlit grille openings and bumper accents. Further hints weren’t available, but Klaus Fröhlich saw the World Flight as a future path BMW can take. Fröhlich, who’s responsible for BMW’s development and on their board of management said, “iNEXT is our mobility proposition for the future, so it’s only logical that the BMW Vision iNEXT should be presented to a global audience in a fresh new style. The World Flight is a fitting way to get the ball rolling.”
As far as the shape, well, don’t expect a sedan, big SUV or a sporty coupe. The iNEXT will move in the direction that most other vehicles will go, and that’s the shape of the ever popular crossover.
Details about the EV power, range or other autonomous tech have yet to be fully revealed, though interior style sketches show floating panels much in the same way of those in the i3. Recycled materials will likely be used here as well, and as for that power unit, we’d bank on them being extremely impressive.
Join the 5Series forums now!
