BMW Reveals the Vision M Next

Have you been worried about how BMW’s M brand will look in the future once it goes electric? No? Well, BMW wants you to calm your fears with a completely funky, anime-looking concept car called the BMW Vision M Next. Yeah, creativity in naming cars really isn’t BMW’s strong suit.

This concept is all about engaging the driver actively, you know, because supposedly hardly anyone will want to drive once robots take over the roads. But don’t worry, this car won’t leave you without any robot assistance, because after all no human can manage a car all alone.

According to BMW, the concept’s crazy design was inspired by the BMW Turbo and i8. Maybe the matte-neon Thrilling Orange treatment on the front and rear fascia throw everything off as it clashes with the Cast Silver metallic paint on everything else, but that seems to be a stretch.

BMW Vision M Next rear (Credit: BMW )

Before you think this is an electric car and that BMW is finally taking the fight to Tesla, relax. The BMW Vision M Next is actually a plug-in hybrid, because going only halfway is all you’re getting from the Bavarians right now. The press release goes on and on about the BMW design “DNA,” sports car-like proportions, and everything being dynamic, but what it comes down to is BMW still isn’t completely comfortable with full electrification for whatever reasons.

You might get a flowery story elsewhere, but when you cut through the glitz and glamour BMW is throwing out there, this car really is just a half-measure, looking like something designed by committee.