BMW concept sedan appeals to young generation

A new concept compact sedan by premium carmaker BMW made its world premiere at the Guangzhou auto show on Friday, setting future directions for car design toward youthfulness, sportiness and individualization.

The BMW concept compact sedan is designed for the lifestyles of the young generation, who are confident and energetic and have high standards of quality, style and innovation. This new type of BMW, with its stylish proportions and thrilling style, has a strong attraction for young consumers.

Karim Habib, head of design of BMW Automobiles, said, "The characterful design of the BMW concept compact sedan embodies the driving pleasure offered by a sporting car with minimized exterior dimensions. It is as distinctive as it is essential - and, as such, it injects new life into the compact segment."

As an innovative pioneer of the industry, BMW always stands at the forefront of market trends. The BMW concept compact sedan once again demonstrates its forward-looking vision.

According to the prediction of data research institute IHS, the market share of compact models in the global premium market will increase from the current 25 percent to 36 percent in 10 years.

With an understanding of the huge potential in young customers, BMW forecasts that the number of customers born after 1990 will account for 39 percent of its total customers. That figure is expected to rise to 54 percent in 2024 when the post-'90s generation becomes the backbone of consumption.

The concept vehicle showcases the distinguished all-around features of BMW, Habib said.

The exterior of the car displays the classic glamor of BMW from every angle.

It is made up of three compartments with compact size and the classic proportions of BMW vehicles. The kidney grille and eye-catching twin circular headlights are a signature design of the marque.

The V-shaped central air-inlet divides the lower part of the headstock into three parts, making it appear wider.

Its sweeping bonnet and long wheelbase stretch the car visually. A unique characteristic of the car is that one cannot see the door knobs on the sides of the car. Instead, one only has to touch the metal of the midline to trigger the touch control door opener.

Precise edges and contours form dynamically chiseled surfaces, giving the car a sculptural and muscular look.

The exclusive exterior paint shade, liquid metal bronze, adheres to the surfaces of the body like cast metal. The fine pigments in the paint shift between light and dark depending on the light. The exclusive 20-inch light-alloy wheels in intricate double-spoke design form a visual highlight with their bi-color design and set the seal on the side view.

Like the sedan's front section, the rear end also looks dynamic. Horizontal lines and shading, together with the slim and eye-catching BMW signature L-shaped tail lamps, elongate the width of the end and make the car appear lower.

The interior design of the model follows the BMW tradition of "driver focus." All the lines, shapes and controlling devices are arranged around the driver and the steering wheel. The cone-shaped visual structure sets the tone for the driving cabin. The top of the cone is the full color head-up display, which projects information on a screen at eye level of the driver.

The dashboard on one side of the passenger's seat extends to the door in an elegant line, creating an open and friendly atmosphere for the front seat passenger.

Exclusive nappa leather, open-pored wood and brushed aluminum form an attractive triad of materials spreading across the whole of the instrument panel.

The mechanical parts in the car are designed with special attention to ergonomics. For instance, the automatic air-conditioner, gear lever and iDrive system are all extended on a super smooth surface. All the other functions on the steering wheel, center stack, center console and door openers are operated using backlit touchsensitive surfaces.

A particularly eye-catching element is the full-width wood trim strip behind the transparent instrument cluster, which remains visible even through the displayed content. This multi-dimensional design lends appealing visual depth to the area in front of the driver. The full color head-up display and 8.8-inch screen on the central control board contain all the information required at any one time.

The rear seats of this new BMW concept sedan have highlighted BMW's attention to the comfort of passengers also.

The seats are upholstered in nappa leather in warm ivory and gray brown, as well as muted brown. The large skylight lets in ample natural light and underlines the generous feeling of roominess. At night, clearance lights that extend to the door light up the touch-control door openers, the window control system and the speakers.

BMW has been taking the lead in many markets and the concept compact sedan is a child of its innovative spirit.

In addition to the premiere of the concept sedan, the company launched another four new models at the show: the all new X5 PHEV, new 6 Series, new M3, and all new BMW S1000 R motorcycle. The recently launched all new BMW 7 Series was also a highlight at the BMW booth.

The all new BMW X5 PHEV is the first BMW sport activity vehicle combining BMW eDrive and xDrive. The plug-in hybrid model features less emission and oil consumption while offering outstanding dynamic performance. The model is priced at 928,000 yuan.

The new BMW 6 Series is available as a coupe, convertible or gran coupe. All are equipped with TwinPower Turbo engines. The series is priced at 952,000 yuan to 1.882 million yuan.

The all new BMW 7 Series is the most progressive and innovative luxury sedan in the world at the moment, according to the company. Its body is made of carbon core, a composite which is a milestone in auto design history and BMW's breakthrough in intelligent lightweight design.

The new BMW M3 comes with enhanced dynamic design and improved navigation system. Its M TwinPower Turbo straight 6-cylinder engine and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission equipped with Drivelogic generate strong momentum for the vehicle. It is priced at 998,000 yuan.

The all new BMW S1000 R motorcycle has a four-in-line engine with a top power of 118 kW and peak torque of 112 Nm. It is installed with BMW's racecar ABS and ASC systems to ensure high speed and safety. It is priced at 178,000 yuan.

duxiaoying@chinadaily.com.cn

Karim Habib, the head of design of BMW Automobiles. Photos Provided to China Daily