There was a bit of news regarding BMW's futuristic ConnectedDrive that leaked before the concept's grand debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. We knew, for example, that it was designed to connect driver, passenger, and environment like no other car ever made. But, now that the proverbial veil has been lifted, we have many more exciting specs to share. We'll start outside, and work our way inside.
The exterior of the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive concept offers a sexy, foreign look. Given its roofless design and windshield that appears to seamlessly blend into the hood, it can definitely be call "exotic". And yet, with the exception of brand badging, it lacks any signature styling that would make it immediately recognizable as a BMW. While the rear end conjures images of a Porsche Carrera GT with parallel humps running from the back of the seats to the bumper. The front end looks to be BMWs futuristic interpretation of a muscle car.
Moving inside, you can see that this is where the magic really happens. Driver and passenger technology include a three dimensional head-up display (HUD) unit. The driver's onboard instruments can be arranged in a number of different ways to satisfy personal preference. Passengers actually get their own HUD, capable of connecting to the internet, looking up new addresses, and sending the data to the driver's display.
Even more futuristic is the concept's "Emotional Browser". According to BMW, the "Emotional Browser" can do everything from play the music selection at a nearby cafe to issue an audio tour of your surroundings to show the featured exhibit at the museum across the street.
Okay, so maybe it's a little less practical than the integrated driver and passenger HUDs. But, it's but very cool nevertheless - perfect for a Sunday drive.
Unfortunately, Bert Smith BMW in Saint Petersburg, FL can't promise that the ConnectedDrive will ever make it to production. In fact, in this particular instance, it's likely that it doesn't. That said, we're hopeful to see at least the HUD knowledge-sharing innovations make its way into new BMW models, in the not too distant future. We'll keep you posted.
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