BMW has just unveiled the upgraded Vision Neue Klasse X, a cutting-edge electric smart car that is packed with innovative features. This futuristic vehicle boasts a 3D sculpture, recycled textiles made from marine plastics, and the groundbreaking ‘superbrains’ software developed by BMW. These superbrains enable the car to detect obstacles and potential accidents on the road, allowing it to navigate around them autonomously.
During the grand unveiling event in Lisbon, BMW showcased the new electric smart car, hinting that it may set the standard for the brand’s future models, much like its predecessor, the Vision Neue Klasse. As the curtains were drawn back, the Vision Neue Klasse X revealed its striking front and rear kidney grilles, which have been transformed into mesmerizing 3D sculptures. These grilles are flanked by panoramic LED headlights, composed of multiple layers of glass panels. Unlike traditional headlights, the Vision Neue Klasse X’s lights flicker rhythmically, creating a captivating visual effect.
According to a BMW spokesperson, this unique lighting design is achieved through a series of glass panels. The sequence of lights can be customized, allowing drivers to personalize the flashing pattern. Additionally, these vertical lights also serve as battery percentage indicators, changing colors to indicate the car’s remaining charge. This not only informs the driver but also catches the attention of onlookers. BMW’s focus on light extends to the rear of the Vision Neue Klasse X as well. The rear lights are made up of individual bulbs, each of which can be controlled and customized with varying light intensity. This adds a touch of personalization and style to the car’s overall aesthetic.
Upon entering the electric smart car, the theme of light is consistently maintained, beginning with the OLED display situated above the instrument panel and aligned with the steering wheel that features multiple buttons. The instrument panel is equipped with an LED light beneath its recyclable polyester covering, which contains minuscule perforations. When the driver and front passenger engage a function from the center console, the ambient lighting within the instrument panel illuminates and flickers, synchronizing with the colors emitted by the activated application or function on the OLED display.
Inside the spacious Vision Neue Klasse X by BMW, the panoramic glass roof from its predecessor remains, allowing uninterrupted views of the surroundings to permeate the interior. The company has also introduced a novel fabric material for the cabin, which, from a distance, immediately captures attention with its blend of orange and white hues, maintaining the same vibrancy as the yellow-white combination of the previous model, the Vision Neue Klasse. Upon closer examination, observers can discern that the cabin’s textile colors are composed of interwoven black, white, orange, and red threads.
In addition to the 3D knitted cabin material, BMW has innovated ‘Verdana’ for the Vision Neue Klasse X, a surface material that is entirely plant-based and free from petroleum derivatives. This material is utilized in the lower section of the door paneling and the center console, where the concealed ambient lighting is located. BMW has repurposed up to 30 percent of maritime plastics, including discarded fishing nets, for the injection-molded components of the Vision Neue Klasse X. Furthermore, the side skirts, front, and rear apron attachments of the electric smart car are manufactured from recycled materials.
BMW has not only emphasized design but also technology. The Panoramic Vision feature has made a return, projecting information directly onto the driver’s line of sight and across the entire width of the windscreen. According to a BMW representative at the unveiling in Lisbon, the Panoramic Vision of the Vision Neue Klasse X is discreetly located under the bonnet of the interior’s front windscreen. This information is essentially a reflection or projection from the 3D head-up display. In the new electric smart car, BMW offers the driver and front passenger the option to choose up to six widgets from the 3D head-up display, which can be displayed on the Panoramic Vision. These widgets range from the weather app, radio function, and battery percentage, to speed and other driving information.
The boxy steering wheel of the Vision Neue Klasse X is equipped with multiple buttons to allow the driver to control the functionalities of the center console and the Panoramic Vision without having to remove their hands from the wheel. Another innovative technology integrated into the electric smart car by BMW is the HYPERSONX WHEEL, which enables the driver to customize sounds for various driving moments such as starting the vehicle, finishing driving, and turning it off. There are four sound options available, including soothing tunes and a ‘vroom!’ sound that gradually increases in volume, simulating the experience of gearing up for a race-track adventure.