CompleteCar

BMW to reveal new roadster concept

The Vision ConnectedDrive concept previews a new compact two-seat roadster from BMW.

This is the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept, a two-seat future-gazing roadster set to provide the focal point for the Bavarian car maker's Geneva Motor Show stand.

It follows on from the sensational BMW EfficientDynamics concept from 2009's Frankfurt show, previewing possible styling and technological directions for the company. And once again, BMW has momentarily forgotten where the space bar is on its keyboard.

For all its futurism, though, the ConnectedDrive Concept has a very traditional set of BMW aesthetic values. Its long bonnet and cabin back look is pure Z4; its curvy swage lines evoke Bangle era BMW; and its doors slide down into the body like the BMW Z1's did. 

Its technological ambition is a little more difficult to decipher. The interior is divided into three layers: comfort, infotainment and safety. That's what all the lights in the cabin are about, because each layer is assigned its own tint, illuminated by fibre-optics.

It is these colours that distinguish the type of information being relayed to the driver at any one time. Red is for safety, blue for infotainment and green for comfort. We think.

There'll no doubt be a demonstration of this light dancing technology at Geneva, at which point it will become clearer.

The car incorporates a next-gen 3D head-up display, too, which cleverly overlays virtual information with the real view in front, so that the two effectively interact. It will, for example, highlight hazards where perhaps the driver has not noticed them. Intelligent stuff.

No drivetrain information has been released as yet, but we'd expect it to use the diesel-hybrid tech of the BMW EfficientDynamics concept, which bestowed supercar performance with 3.8 litres/100km consumption (75mpg). We'll find out soon enough.

Written by
Published on February 10, 2011