The 2019 BMW Group #NEXTGen event in Munich was BMW’s moment to share its visions of the future, from new concept cars like the brand-new BMW Vision M NEXT to the latest developments in autonomous driving. Here are a few highlights from the eye-opening experience.

EASE VERSUS BOOST? 

As part of the new BMW Vision M NEXT concept car unveiling, BMW also showcased two new driving modes: Ease Mode and Boost Mode. For those wanting to be driven autonomously, there is EASE Mode, while those wish to drive themselves, there is BOOST Mode.

These new interpretations of mobility, which derive their names from the inspiration of EASE your Life and BOOST your Moment, mean that The Ultimate Driving Machine is no longer just a vehicle, but also a place for relaxation, interaction, entertainment and concentration.

In Boost mode everything is geared towards the driving experience, which includes amazing innovations such as the stunning Curved Glass Display and an impressive Augmented Reality Head-Up Display for drivers; while Ease Mode – autonomous mode – has enhanced sensory elements, touches of personalisation and ,of course, an amazing entertainment system.

INTRODUCING THE POWER BEV.

Also revealed was the Power BEV trial electric vehicle; it goes from 0 to 62mph comfortably under three seconds. This first-look car really lives up to the idea of #NEXTGen, boasting three fifth-generation electric drive units and a maximum delivery of 720hp. Using a BMW 5 Series production model, the engineers positioned one of the fifth-generation drive units at the front axle, with the other two (a double drive unit) at the rear axle.

Not to be dismissed as a pure electric muscle car, the Power BEV has been designed with both horizontal and longitudinal dynamics in mind, meaning it's not just for sprinting in a straight line, but, as you would expect of a BMW, is a joy to drive around corners. 

BMW EXPLORE LEVEL 4. 

The possibilities of autonomous driving were demonstrated at #NEXTGen thanks to a brilliant real-life display by the BMW 7 Series. With no driver or passengers inside the car, it was summoned by smartphone and then driven digtially via an OMD tablet. Being a Level 4 automation meant that the car was never in direct control by a physical driver, and the BMW 7 series made it look oh-so easy.

BMW Group has invested heavily into self-driving innovations, such as the  development of environment recognition technology with machine learning capabilities. In this particular demonstration, both high-performance sensor technologies such as computer vision and innovative sensor fusion methods were used.

What’s more, BMW also showcased the latest generation of Level 2 driver assistance systems. This included camera sensors and machine learning, which are used to detect speed limit signs and also to interpret traffic lights.