BMW’s Vision Future concept is a prophecy written in carbon fiber and aluminum

By Stephen Edelstein Published April 21, 2014

What is the future of luxury? No, it’s not flying cars.

Unveiled at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show, the BMW Vision Future Luxury concept describes a vision of the future that should be familiar to car buyers by now, one that uses technology to both improve efficiency and turn cars into large smartphones.

The body is rendered in carbon fiber and aluminum, and features a sleek design that not only looks striking but – according to BMW – reduces drag for better fuel efficiency. It also features the laser headlights set to debut on the 2015 i8 sports car.

The itself styling seems to be borrowed from the Pininfarina-designed Gran Lusso Coupe, and could indicate a new, more evocative direction BMW plans to take with future models.

For the interior, BMW used a process called “subtractive modeling”. This involved designing the interior in layers with different materials, including structural aluminum, surface carbon fiber, and wood and leather trim. This allowed designers to “mill down” the layers depending on what was needed in a given area, helping to save weight and conserve material.

The driver interface was designed around the infotainment display, including a new version of the BMW ConnectedDrive concierge and a head-up display that projects information into the driver’s line of sight for an augmented-reality feel. Welcome to the Borg-mobile.

Meanwhile, the two rear passengers get a detachable “Rear Seat Touch Command Tablet” that can control all secondary functions, display any information that’s available to front-seat occupants, and stream digital media.

The Vision Future Luxury is likely to remain a concept car, but its styling and at least some of its technology will likely be incorporated into the next BMW 7 Series. We’re hoping, though, this becomes a 9 Series. But we won’t hold our breath.

Topics

Photo Galleries

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

I drove 500 miles with Android Automotive, here’s why every car needs it

Google News on Android Automotive on the Chevy Equinox 2025

The worlds of smartphones and cars have long been colliding, as Google and Apple have prioritized building new experiences with CarPlay and Android Auto, respectively, even as carmakers have continued to develop their own infotainment experiences.

Despite the success of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both platforms have key issues, namely that they run on top of the car’s operating system, which means they lack the tight integration that yields the best experience and rely on your phone for certain functions. To address these issues, both companies have also been developing operating systems that can power cars.

Cars

Uber partners with May Mobility to bring thousands of autonomous vehicles to U.S. streets

uber may mobility av rides partnership

The self-driving race is shifting into high gear, and Uber just added more horsepower. In a new multi-year partnership, Uber and autonomous vehicle (AV) company May Mobility will begin rolling out driverless rides in Arlington, Texas by the end of 2025—with thousands more vehicles planned across the U.S. in the coming years.
Uber has already taken serious steps towards making autonomous ride-hailing a mainstream option. The company already works with Waymo, whose robotaxis are live in multiple cities, and now it’s welcoming May Mobility’s hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna vans to its platform. The vehicles will launch with safety drivers at first but are expected to go fully autonomous as deployments mature.
May Mobility isn’t new to this game. Backed by Toyota, BMW, and other major players, it’s been running AV services in geofenced areas since 2021. Its AI-powered Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) tech allows it to react quickly and safely to unpredictable real-world conditions—something that’s helped it earn trust in city partnerships across the U.S. and Japan.
This expansion into ride-hailing is part of a broader industry trend. Waymo, widely seen as the current AV frontrunner, continues scaling its service in cities like Phoenix and Austin. Tesla, meanwhile, is preparing to launch its first robotaxis in Austin this June, with a small fleet of Model Ys powered by its camera-based Full Self-Driving (FSD) system. While Tesla aims for affordability and scale, Waymo and May are focused on safety-first deployments using sensor-rich systems, including lidar—a tech stack regulators have so far favored.
Beyond ride-hailing, the idea of personally owned self-driving cars is also gaining traction. Waymo and Toyota recently announced they’re exploring how to bring full autonomy to private vehicles, a move that could eventually bring robotaxi tech right into your garage.
With big names like Uber, Tesla, Waymo, and now May Mobility in the mix, the ride-hailing industry is evolving fast—and the road ahead looks increasingly driver-optional.

Cars

The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.