BMW Compact Sedan Concept (2015)
The
BMW Group has chosen 2015 Auto Guangzhou, one of the largest
international motor shows in China, to present a very special new
development to the global public: the company's vision of a four-door
sedan for the compact segment. "The BMW Compact Sedan Concept reveals
the potential we see in a compact sedan," says Adrian van Hooydonk,
Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. "It not only gives the driver
and passengers generous amounts of space within a compact area but does
so while providing the sporting ability you'd expect from BMW and an
elegance otherwise only available in large BMW sedans. The quality and
intrinsic value of the BMW Compact Sedan Concept are clear signals of
our premium intentions for the car."
The car for a new generation
As great growth
potential can be seen in the Chinese premium compact market, BMW has
conducted in-depth observation and research for the segment's
development trends and target customers. The BMW Compact Sedan Concept
represents the approach to life of a generation of youth in China. These
potential customers are confident, dynamic and extremely
quality-conscious and have a feel for aesthetics. "The characterful
design of the BMW Compact Sedan Concept embodies the driving pleasure
offered by a sporting car with minimised exterior dimensions. It is as
distinctive as it is essential - and, as such, it injects new life into
the compact segment. This four-door sedan stands for everything that
sets BMW apart," explains Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles.
Fitting the BMW template from every angle - the exterior design
The
compact and agile exterior of the BMW Compact Sedan Concept creates a
familiar sedan silhouette based around a striking three-box design.
Hallmark BMW proportions imbue the car with a dynamic allure unrivalled
in its segment. Its sweeping bonnet and long wheelbase stretch the car
visually, while the slightly set-back greenhouse further underlines its
sporting nature. The clever use of time-honoured BMW elements, such as a
long, prominent swage line, dynamic Hofmeister kink and surfaces
moulded with impressive depth, ensures the car cuts an athletic figure
from the side and highlights its relationship with other BMW vehicles.
The four doors are integrated harmoniously into its proportions and
allow easy entry for the driver and all passengers. Discreet soft-touch
handles below the swage line open the doors as soon as a finger touches
their metal surface.
Powerful interplay of surfaces
Precise edges
and contours form dynamically chiselled surfaces, reflecting an assured
interplay between light and shade that lends sculptural depth to the
flanks of the car and conjures images of tensed muscles. The flared
wheel arches rise out clearly from the body as it tapers in towards the
road and further strengthen the impression of athletic intent. 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 incidence of light,
showcasing the car's attention-grabbing design language to maximum
effect. The window surrounds and the weather strip-style exterior mirror
stalks in polished aluminium are a classy flourish, while the exclusive
20-inch light-alloy wheels in intricate double-spoke design form a
visual highlight with their bi-colour design and set the seal on the
side view.
Front and rear ends exude undiluted dynamic allure
The
designers have emphasised the width of the slim front end and ensured
it picks up the sporting baton from the car's flanks. Its signature
kidney grille and eye-catching twin circular headlights instantly
identify the BMW Compact Sedan Concept as a BMW. The familiar form of
the kidneys and their size convey the car's distinctive character: a
seamless fusion of agility, sportiness and elegance. The hexagonal,
dynamically "sawn-off" twin circular LED headlights on either side point
inwards towards the kidney grille, creating a visual link between the
kidneys and headlights that lends the car a purposeful look. The
V-shaped central air intake is the starting point for a pervading design
theme which splits the lower section of the front end into three
sections and gives it a broader appearance. Surfaces merging into one
another and stacked in different layers, and the interplay of those
levels, lend extra depth and dynamism to the design.
Like the
front end, the horizontally structured rear also makes a clear sporting
statement. Lateral lines and a vibrant interplay of horizontal light and
shadowed surfaces accentuate the width of the rear end and at the same
time make the car look lower. The slim, elongated string of rear lights,
with their prominent L shape, take this process a step further. An LED
light element in the shape of an "L" inside the lights makes the
characteristic light contours visible at night as well. The confidently
sculpted rear apron reduces the gap between road and rear end, while a
chrome insert that widens towards the outer edges of the rear apron adds
a classy accent.
Sporty lightness and modern exclusivity - the interior
Glance
into the interior of the BMW Compact Sedan Concept and its BMW family
ties are immediately evident. The cockpit radiates a clear driver focus:
all the lines, forms and controls are geared towards the person behind
the wheel and their needs. This is highlighted by the prominent lines
that converge in the direction of travel either side of the steering
wheel. The resultant "cone of vision" sets the tone for the driver's
area as a whole. The form of the horizontal, nozzle-shaped air vents and
their internal structure continue the theme. The "cone of vision"
tapers into a Head-Up Display with combiner screen, which projects all
the relevant information into the driver's direct field of view.
Elongated
horizontal lines and surfaces creating a generous feeling of space
provide a counterpoint to the cabin's driver focus and sporty styling.
For example, the instrument panel on the front passenger side extends
into the doors in an elegant, horizontal movement, creating an inviting
ambience for passengers. Exclusive Nappa leather, open-pored wood and
brushed aluminium form an attractive triad of materials spreading across
the whole of the instrument panel, whose leather-covered top surface
with contrast stitching is a feature normally the preserve of luxury
sedans. An unbroken insert in polished aluminium provides for a classy
surround for the instrument panel, while orange-coloured contour
lighting further accentuates its character-defining contours at night.
The
doors' design picks up the instrument panel's horizontal lines and
extends them into the flanks of the car in a dynamic sweep. The front
door, for example, extends visually into the B-pillar and makes the
interior feel bigger. Indeed, the cabin offers an unaccustomed level of
space and openness for a car in this class. The sporty seats, which in
the rear suggest two individual seats, further enhance this impression.
Covered in naturally soft Nappa leather in warm Ivory and Grey Brown, as
well as Muted Brown, they offer unbeatable comfort. Accents in Velocity
Tulip - a snug shade of orange - underline the sporting geometry of the
seats, which take their cue from racing buckets and accentuate the
sporty character of the vehicle while at the same time meeting the
comfort requirements of a premium vehicle. Beyond this, the large
panoramic roof floods the interior with natural light and extends the
space above the passengers' heads to underline the generous feeling of
roominess.
