[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Chi l’ha detto che i concept delle case automobilistiche riguardano solo macchine supersportive o superlussuose? BMW, nell’occasione del suo centesimo anniversario, ha voluto comunicare al grande pubblico its vision of urban mobility for decades to comeThe result is the Mini Vision Next 100, a working prototype that revolutionises the way of thinking about A and B-segment cars, turning them into vehicles that would not look out of place in a science fiction or 007 movie.
Just over 3.6 metres long, 2 plus 2 seats, full electric propulsion, autonomous driving, customisable, with a revolutionary man-machine interface. These in a nutshell are the characteristics of the new city car that we will see whizzing past our homes within a few years.
The features of the Mini Vision Next in detail
Dimensions. The prototype has much more compact dimensions than the current Mini because the electronic driving aids will make the bumpers superfluous, allowing not only a smaller footprint, but also a rethinking of the materials and design of the front and rear parts. In addition, the electric motors take up significantly less space than the endothermic motors and the batteries are placed in the vehicle floor, strengthening the body and lowering the centre of gravity.
Interior. The seats are replaced by two simple two-seater sofas (the rear one is a bit more sacrificed). The driver can decide at any time to cede control of the car to the autonomous driving system, and then take it back. Steering and pedals move on a rail to leave room for the hands and legs of the driver-passenger.
Customisation. Car design gurus agree that the car of the near future will be highly customisable. Technology now makes it possible to create non-standardised products, introducing such a wide range of optional extras and colour choices during the production phase that it is possible to have products designed almost to the buyer's specifications. In addition, the Mini Vision Next is equipped with projection devices that colour the interior and exterior of the car with shades and graphics chosen by the owner. Just like the desktop of a PC or the wallpaper of a smartphone.
Command and control interface. One of the most interesting and innovative aspects of the Mini prototype is the command and control interface, called the 'Cooperizer'. As simple and intuitive as it is elegant and ergonomic, it is a genuine piece of retro-futurist designtaken directly from films like Dune or the world of Flash Gordon. The controls are all concentrated on a metal cylinder oriented towards the driver, who, acting on three golden dials, decides everything that the electronics have not already made automatic. The control panel is a translucent luminous disc in the centre of the dashboard, which otherwise has nothing else, in the spirit of 'less is more'.
These choices of car design reflect the new philosophy of the BMW group, which considers itself a mobility provider and useful technology only if it is ergonomic and easy to use. We are therefore at the dawn of an era in which automated and robotic devices will take away the 90% of operational decisions from users, while also remaining invisible, hidden under the guise of forms designed to convey the as simple and clean as possible. In short, technology is preparing to become what Arthur C. Clark had prophesied in the middle of the last century: indistinguishable from magic.
Sources: Mini.com/next100[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_fullwidth_slideshow padding=”0″ images=”7445,7446,7447,7448,7449,7450″ stretch_images=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][mk_button dimension=”outline” corner_style=”full_rounded” size=”medium” icon=”mk-icon-home” url=”/” align=”center” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_right=”0″]Torna alla Home[/mk_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]
