Tag Archives: BMW

This solar-powered EV generates more energy than it uses, so you could drive without charging as often

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What if an electric vehicle didn’t just consume energy, but quietly made more of it while sitting in the sun? That is the premise behind Clemson University’s Deep Orange 17, a boxy two-seat EV concept developed with BMW of North America. Also called Luminetta, the experimental coupe rethinks the relationship between a car’s body and its energy needs, turning the exterior into something more than a protective shell.

The most unusual part is its photovoltaic skin. Instead of placing a conventional solar panel on the roof, the student engineers integrated more than 1,781 solar cells across the vehicle’s exterior. Developed with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, the system is designed to keep generating electricity even when parts of the surface are shaded. It essentially turns the car itself into a mobile solar collector, capturing energy whether Luminetta is driving or simply parked outside.

Designer: Clemson University

That idea makes particular sense for an EV. Cars spend most of their time stationary, often exposed to sunlight for hours. Deep Orange 17 uses that otherwise idle time to replenish its energy reserves. According to simulations conducted using weather and sunlight data from Greenville, South Carolina, Frankfurt, Madrid, and Mumbai, the concept could generate enough additional energy to deliver an average of around 31 miles of driving range from a typical 12-mile daily commute.

But the solar technology is only half of the equation. To make the most of every watt it generates, Clemson’s team designed the vehicle to be exceptionally light. The prototype weighs just 550 kilograms (1,212 pounds), achieved through a multi-material structure combining steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, and 3D-printed metal joints. With considerably less mass to move, the electric drivetrain needs less energy in the first place.

Its shape follows the same efficiency-first philosophy. Inspired by the boxfish, the exterior combines a streamlined profile with a surprisingly practical volume for a compact two-seater. The final prototype is an EV that looks less like a conventional production car and more like a physical experiment in aerodynamic sculpture.

Energy recovery is built into the driving experience as well. Regenerative braking captures some of the energy normally lost during deceleration, while torque distribution and drivetrain controls are optimized to minimize unnecessary consumption. Rather than chasing headline acceleration figures, the project focuses on a more fundamental question – how little energy can a car need to perform its everyday job?

Inside, the experimental approach becomes more familiar. Luminetta features a custom interface for displaying live vehicle data alongside Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving the futuristic concept some everyday usability. Developed by 16 graduate automotive engineering students through Clemson’s Deep Orange program, the project took roughly two years to move from an industry challenge to a working prototype. It is not intended to be a production vehicle right now, but as a research platform exploring what an energy-positive EV could look like.

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BMW turns 2025 April Fools’ joke into a Nürburgring-bound M3 touring race car

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What began as a playful internet prank has evolved into a genuine motorsport project. The racing version of the BMW M3 Touring 24H will compete at the legendary 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2026, turning an April Fools’ joke into a unique moment for endurance racing. Built by BMW M Motorsport, the car will take on the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife (often called the “Green Hell”), bringing a wagon body style (rarely seen in modern motorsport) to one of the world’s most demanding circuits.

The idea originated on April 1, 2025, when BMW shared images of a supposed race-ready M3 Touring on social media as part of its annual April Fools’ tradition. The concept depicted a full-blown GT-style race car based on the performance wagon, complete with aggressive aerodynamic components and racing livery. While initially intended as a joke, the reaction from fans was overwhelmingly positive. Enthusiasts embraced the idea of a high-performance wagon competing on the track, prompting BMW engineers to explore whether the concept could become reality.

Designer: BMW Group

That fan enthusiasm ultimately led to the creation of the BMW M3 Touring 24H, a competition-ready machine developed specifically for endurance racing at the Nürburgring. The car is scheduled to make its racing debut at a round of the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) before appearing at the 24-hour race itself in May 2026. The event will mark a rare sight in modern motorsport: a long-roof station wagon battling alongside purpose-built race cars in one of the world’s toughest endurance competitions.

Visually, the M3 Touring 24H transforms a practical family wagon into a striking track weapon. The bodywork incorporates wide fenders, a deep front splitter, aerodynamic side panels, and a large rear wing mounted above the tailgate. A racing diffuser and enlarged air intakes help optimize airflow and cooling during long stints on track, while the overall stance mirrors the aggressive proportions of BMW’s GT race cars. The familiar Touring silhouette remains intact, giving the car a distinctive appearance that blends practicality with pure racing performance.

Although detailed technical specifications for the race version remain limited, the project draws inspiration from the performance credentials of the road-going BMW M3 CS Touring. That high-performance wagon uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six engine producing around 543 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque, paired with an eight-speed transmission and BMW’s M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. The result is a wagon capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in about 3.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of approximately 186 mph.

The Nürburgring itself has long been central to BMW M’s development and racing activities. The 12.9-mile circuit features more than 70 corners and dramatic elevation changes, making it one of the most challenging tracks in the world. BMW M vehicles have achieved numerous successes there over the years, including multiple victories in the 24-hour race, reinforcing the brand’s deep connection to the track. The debut of the BMW M3 Touring 24H represents more than just a novelty. It highlights how fan enthusiasm and digital culture can influence real-world automotive projects, especially when a playful idea resonates strongly with enthusiasts.

When the M3 Touring 24H lines up on the grid at the Nürburgring in 2026, it will stand out among the field not only for its unusual body style but also for the story behind its creation.

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How BMW Designworks Turns Circularity Into Creative Fuel

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BMW’s design philosophy operates on a simple premise: emotion first, specs second. Adrian van Hooydonk, head of design, doesn’t mince words about this. Customers feel a product before they ever parse a data sheet.

Designer: BMW

This creates tension when sustainability enters the frame. Circular design has historically meant compromise, a sense of settling for less in service of doing good. The Neue Klasse series, especially the all-electric iX3, flips that script entirely. Van Hooydonk’s team treats circularity as a creative constraint that opens doors rather than closing them. “Circular products can’t feel like a compromise,” he explains. “They need to feel like more, not less.” The circular strategy addresses CO2 reduction at every manufacturing touchpoint, but the real shift happens upstream, in how designers conceptualize materials before a single prototype gets built. Sustainability becomes narrative architecture rather than regulatory compliance.

Designworks and the Benefit Mindset

Julia de Bono runs Designworks. The studio has shaped aircraft interiors, digital interfaces, and consumer products across every category imaginable.

Her philosophy centers on what she calls “benefit mindset,” and she draws an unexpected parallel to make the point. The Impossible Burger didn’t succeed by marketing sacrifice to environmentally conscious consumers. It succeeded by delivering an experience that stood alone. De Bono applies identical logic to automotive design: “Our role is to make the sustainable option not just equal, but superior in customer experience. We want circularity to bring more richness, more presence, more value.”

This reshapes everything about material selection at Designworks. The studio isn’t swapping petroleum plastics for recycled alternatives and calling it progress. Every material choice gets evaluated through tactile experience, visual storytelling, emotional resonance. The circular story becomes brand experience. Design maturity, in de Bono’s view, means infusing narrative from the start rather than bolting sustainability messaging onto finished products.

Materials That Tell a Story

The iX3 cabin demonstrates practical application of circular thinking at scale. PET-based mono-material seat covers deliver expected tactile comfort while radically simplifying end-of-life recycling. Secondary raw materials appear in dashboard surfaces, structural components, chassis elements. The real intelligence shows in disassembly optimization, where BMW engineers separation into products from day one, designing each element for clean post-use extraction.

Traditional luxury interiors layer materials in ways that make recycling contamination nearly inevitable. Leather bonds to foam bonds to structural substrate in combinations that defy clean separation. BMW’s approach designs for that moment fifteen years out when this vehicle reaches end of life. The seat foam separates from fabric covering separates from structural support. Each generation becomes feedstock for the next.

Luxury automotive has always communicated status through abundance. Leather, exotic woods, brushed metals stacked in combinations that signal premium positioning. BMW’s test: can circular materials carry that emotional weight while telling a different story? The mono-material fabrics, advanced eco-plastics, engineered weaves become new vocabulary. Early market response suggests buyers respond when sustainability weaves into ownership experience rather than presenting as trade-off.

Emotion as Strategy

Luxury buyers purchase stories, and BMW understands this dynamic better than most automakers. The circular narrative offers differentiation where performance specs have largely converged across competitors. Someone choosing the iX3 isn’t just acquiring efficient electric mobility. They’re buying into a design philosophy that treats resource consciousness as creative advantage rather than limitation.

Designworks extends this thinking to every touchpoint. Haptic feedback from interior controls, interface animations on cabin displays, the sound design of door closures: all reinforce circular narrative. Materials get selected for emotional response as much as technical performance. De Bono describes the result as “responsible abundance,” luxury that doesn’t require excess to register as premium.

Performance Through a Different Lens

Performance usually means horsepower and acceleration times, but BMW’s circular lens reframes the conversation entirely. Electric drivetrains deliver instant torque and low center of gravity, which liberates designers from packaging constraints that shaped combustion vehicles for a century. Skateboard platform architecture creates interior volumes that would have demanded much larger exterior dimensions in traditional layouts. The performance advantage becomes spatial, experiential, narrative.

Regional markets interpret this differently. American buyers equate automotive strength with physical presence, the ability to command road space and project capability. European and Asian markets often prioritize individual identity, advanced user experience, tech-forward interfaces. Circularity adapts to regional priorities by shaping silhouette, proportion, stance as carriers for localized story. “For us, circularity means shaping the silhouette, the proportions, and the presence,” notes a senior Designworks designer. “It’s not just technical. It’s aesthetic leadership.”

Global Design, Local Values

Designworks runs focus groups across China, North America, Europe, the Middle East. The question: how does sustainable design resonate differently across cultures?

In China, rapidly evolving tastes push toward bolder, more tech-driven expressions. North American markets still value physical presence, which sustainable materials and production must emphasize rather than diminish. BMW resists the temptation of unified global design language. Circularity becomes flexible toolkit, adapting to local values while maintaining consistent material philosophy underneath.

The Competitive Edge

BMW positions sustainability as competitive advantage rather than compliance cost, and the ambition extends well beyond current models. Circularity will shape silhouettes, interior architectures, the ways customers interact with vehicles across the next decade. For design observers tracking automotive evolution, the lesson reaches beyond Munich: sustainability constraints unlock creative solutions when treated as design opportunities rather than regulatory burdens.

Advanced materials combine with emotional storytelling and reimagined performance to create differentiation that competitors struggle to replicate. Resource consciousness becomes precursor to market leadership rather than barrier to it. The rest of the industry would benefit from studying how BMW weaves sustainability, narrative, and design freedom into something that registers as progress rather than sacrifice.

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BMW is bringing a dedicated UNO Gaming App to over 500,000 existing car infotainment systems

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With an announcement from BMW dropping shortly after the Concours d’Elegance event at Pebble Beach, you’d probably think we’ve got some interesting car news or some automotive updates, but you’d be wrong. Instead, BMW threw quite the curveball by announcing a dedicated version of the hit card game UNO, designed specifically for in-car gaming. Dubbed the “UNO Car Party!”, this collaboration between BMW, Mattel, and AirConsole rolled out at Gamescom 2024, where it was introduced as the next evolution of in-car entertainment. With over 500,000 BMW and MINI vehicles set to feature this, you can now settle all your family’s backseat rivalries with a virtual card match that no one saw coming.

Designers: BMW & Mattel

The setup is surprisingly slick for a car game. AirConsole’s tech lets up to four players use their phones as controllers—no shuffling required, just a quick QR code scan on the car’s display. Each player’s hand remains secret on their phone while the main screen shows the game’s progress, meaning you can still side-eye your opponents and snoop on their hand. Given how hands-on and intense UNO can be, the game is only playable when the vehicle is in park mode. That’s BMW’s subtle way of saying, “Hey, safety first.” But once the car’s stationary, it’s game on, transforming your car into a temporary game room that’s perfect for killing time while charging your EV or waiting for that friend who’s always late.

In terms of gameplay, it’s pretty much the UNO you know and love (or dread). Same rules, same chance to ruin friendships, but now with digital flair—automated scoring, snazzy graphics, and a setup that doesn’t involve losing cards under the seat. It’s straightforward, easy to get into, and definitely beats staring out the window. The concept is clever in its simplicity, merging retro card game vibes with modern tech. Plus, it’s a nice break from doomscrolling or listening to the same playlist on repeat.

This move from BMW is part of a bigger trend where cars are becoming more than just vehicles—they’re turning into mobile entertainment hubs. And while “UNO Car Party!” might not be a game-changer (pun intended), it’s a fun little feature that adds personality to your car. Sure, it’s no substitute for a full-fledged console, but it’s a step toward making your vehicle a bit more interesting when you’re not actually driving it. Whether it’s a quick match during a pit stop or a way to pass the time while you’re stuck waiting for someone, it’s clear that BMW is leaning into the idea that cars can be places for more than just commuting.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I wish I could play UNO in my car,” your oddly specific wish has just come true. Whether you’re ready to embrace it or just find it amusing, BMW’s latest innovation proves that even the most unexpected ideas can have a place in the future of driving—or at least parking.

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Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ Racing Edition Review: A high-speed performance for motorsports fans

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PROS:


  • Sleek profile and stylish design

  • Good battery life and fast charging

  • Included wireless charger

CONS:


  • Underwhelming Camera capability

  • No ultrawide camera

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Infinix and BMW Deisgnworks have successfully captured the essence of speed and performance with this model, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a reliable, stylish smartphone that embodies the thrill of racing and the promise of speed.

On March 18th of this year, Infinix unveiled its NOTE 40 series at the iconic Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. The choice of venue was no coincidence; the world-renowned Formula 1 racetrack served as the perfect backdrop to showcase the NOTE 40’s speed and performance. Among the NOTE 40 Series announced at the event was the Racing Edition in collaboration with BMW Deisgnworks. Now, the Infinix NOTE 40 Series Racing Edition has become available globally.

While smartphone collaborations with car brands aren’t uncommon, the opportunity to review the Racing Edition as a motorsports enthusiast was irresistible. The Note 40 Pro+ 5G Racing Edition Gift Box I received included a plethora of speed-inspired gadgets and goodies beside the phone, including the XWATCH 3 WE, XBUDS 3 WE, a 68W GaN fast charger, a USB-C to USB-C braided cable, MagPower wireless power bank, MagWallet, sunglasses, and a keychain. While these accessories undoubtedly contribute to the overall package, this review will focus exclusively on the smartphone itself.

Designer: Infinix

Aesthetics

The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Racing Edition comes in Racing Gray while the regular model offers a choice of Vintage Green with a vegan leather finish or Obsidian Black with matte texture. The Racing Edition showcases what Infinix calls “Wings of Speed”, featuring dynamic vertical ridges on its back panel that evoke a sense of motion. The sleek ridges are crafted through a UV transfer printing process. Composed of composite materials, the ridged texture not only enhances tactile satisfaction but also captivates with shifting lights and shadows as the phone moves.

The phone sports a rectangular-shaped camera module on its back panel, housing a triple camera setup, an Active Halo, and BMW’s iconic tri-color emblem, as you’d expect. The Active Halo offers customizable AI lighting for notifications, gaming, charging, and more, and can also function as a fill light for enhanced photography and videography. The camera module’s minimal protrusion contributes to the phone’s sleek profile, complemented by the Infinix logo and 5G insignia in grey which are positioned vertically at the lower left of the back panel, ensuring a minimalist and polished appearance.

Ergonomics

Merely 8.1mm thin, the phone is sleek and fits comfortably in your hand. Weighing 190g and measuring 6.47 x 2.93 x 0.32 inches, it’s effortlessly portable. The slim profile, coupled with curved edges and a textured back panel, provides excellent grip without digging into your hands, ensuring it won’t slip out of your hands. While a textured finish enhances grip, it is not free from fingerprints and smudges, although a lot less noticeable compared to glossy non-textured surfaces.

To utilize the phone’s wireless magnetic charging feature, you’ll need to attach the included magnetic case. While the case itself is a simple black design, it thankfully maintains the same leather-like texture found on the back panel of the Vintage Green model, preserving the phone’s overall grip and feel.

As for the placements of buttons and ports, the power button and the volume locker are located on the right side of the phone, and nothing on the left. The top of the device houses the speaker grill, microphone, and IR blaster while the bottom houses the dual nano-SIM card tray, microphone, UBC-C port, and speaker grill.

Performance

Aside from its distinctive Race Edition back panel design and customized UI, the rest of the device is the same as its regular NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G counterpart. Emphasizing speed and performance, it runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 5G chipset paired with a generous 12GB of RAM (expandable virtually to 18GB) and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. This hardware combination ensures smooth multitasking and efficient app handling, making it suitable for both casual use and more demanding tasks.

Running on Infinix’s XOS 14 based on Android 14, the device delivers a smooth user experience. The phone comes with a special Racing Edition wallpaper and UI. While the exclusive wallpaper is a nice touch, users hoping for multiple options might be disappointed. Fortunately, the device offers a vast library of wallpapers both on-device and online. Additionally, Infinix’s AI Wallpaper Generator lets you create custom wallpapers, with up to six daily creations. Moreover, Infinix introduced AI Wallpaper Generator, allowing users to create up to six custom wallpapers daily, enhancing personalization options for users who enjoy changing their phone’s look frequently. As for support, Infinix offers two major Android updates and three years of security patches.

One of the standout features of the phone is the robust battery and versatile charging options. Sporting a 4,600mAh battery, the device supports rapid 100W wired charging and convenient 20W wireless charging. Infinix goes the extra mile by including a 100W charger, a MagCase, and a MagPad wireless magnetic charger in the box. Additionally, Infinix offers a sleek Qi wireless power bank with a 3020mAh capacity. And, if you want to charge your other device, Note 40 Pro+ 5G is capable of reverse charging, although the included MagCase is needed to utilize this feature.

Equipped with Infinix’s first self-developed Cheetah X1 chip and features All-Round FastCharge 2.0, the device optimizes battery health and charging efficiency. There are three different charging modes that cater to your needs. Smart Charge offers optimal charging speed, while Hyper Charge delivers an impressive 50% charge in just 8 minutes. For those concerned about overheating, Low-Temp Charge gently charges the device to maintain a comfortable temperature. Additionally, AI Charging Protection safeguards battery longevity by learning charging patterns and preventing overcharging. In real-world testing, the battery easily lasted a full day of intense use on a single charge, and charging speeds were remarkably close to the advertised speeds.

The Note 40 Pro+ 5G boasts a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080p, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The display is safeguarded by Corning Gorilla Glass, although the specific generation is unspecified. While there is no LTPO technology implemented, which is understandable given the phone’s budget-friendly price point, there is an auto-switch option that automatically adjusts the refresh rate to 60Hz or 120Hz based on content and battery life, balancing performance and power efficiency. The dual speakers branded with JBL professional tuning certification deliver good sound, enhancing the multimedia experience with clear audio output and immersive viewing.

While the Note 40 Pro+ 5G’s performance and battery life are commendable, its camera capabilities are less impressive. The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G boasts a triple camera system consisting of a 108MP main camera with f/1.75 aperture and OIS, a 2MP macro with F/2.4 aperture, and a 2MP depth sensor. The 108MP main sensor captures decent shots in well-lit conditions, but color accuracy can be over-saturated. The macro photos are grainy and non-usable, although I’m certain not many people care about this. The 32MP front-facing camera provides passable selfies under optimal lighting conditions but struggles in low-light environments, resulting in softer details and increased noise.

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Sustainability

Infinix has positioned itself as a youth-centric brand with a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The company’s partnership with UNESCO to promote STEM education globally is a testament to this commitment.

While features like the Note 40 Pro+ 5G’s IP53 rating, Corning Gorilla Glass protection, and battery optimization contribute to device longevity and reduce environmental impact, they represent only part of the sustainability equation. A comprehensive approach encompassing material selection, repairability, and end-of-life management is essential for creating truly eco-friendly smartphones. Given Infinix’s established dedication to social responsibility, we hope that the brand will continue to innovate in these areas.

Value

Priced competitively at $329, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Racing Edition offers excellent value with its combination of design, display quality, and robust performance. Despite some camera performance limitations, it remains a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers looking for a stylish and capable smartphone that delivers on speed and endurance. The inclusion of essential charging accessories, such as the 100W charger, MagCase, and MagPad, further enhances its appeal, making it a standout choice in the budget smartphone market.

Verdict

The Infinix Note 40 Pro+ 5G Racing Edition is a stylish and capable mid-range smartphone with strong points in design, display, and battery life. The incorporation of racing-inspired aesthetics, such as the dynamic ridged back panel and the exclusive Racing Edition UI, adds a unique flair that resonates with enthusiasts of speed and performance. While the camera could benefit from improvements, the device’s overall package is solid. Infinix and BMW Deisgnworks have successfully captured the essence of speed and performance with this model, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a reliable, stylish smartphone that embodies the thrill of racing and the promise of speed.

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How BMW’s Designworks Transforms Automotive Design Using AI Tools

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AI in the design process reshapes the industry, and BMW’s Designworks studio leads this transformation. AI tools like MidJourney, Runway, and Kaiber enhance how designers generate images, create animations, and develop textures inspired by nature and existing designs. This shift streamlines workflows and democratizes creativity, making it easier for designers to visualize and iterate on ideas quickly.

Designer: BMW Designworks

Revolutionizing Workflow and Democratizing Creativity

These AI tools have become essential in BMW’s Designworks studio. They allow the generation of images, animations, and textures that would otherwise require labor-intensive traditional methods. By leveraging AI, designers can explore creative possibilities quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing the time and effort needed to bring concepts to life.

Traditionally, creating a new design involves numerous steps: sketching, modeling, rendering, and iterating based on feedback. Each of these steps can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. However, with AI, designers can input parameters or a simple sketch and receive multiple fully realized design options within minutes. This rapid iteration capability allows for more experimentation and refinement, leading to higher quality and more innovative designs.

AI democratizes creativity by enabling designers with varying skill sets to contribute effectively to projects. Even those without extensive experience in animation or 3D modeling can produce compelling visual content. This inclusivity fosters a more collaborative environment where team members can present fully visualized ideas during brainstorming sessions, resulting in a more productive and innovative development process.

At BMW’s Designworks, this collaborative spirit is evident. Team members from different disciplines—industrial design, UI/UX, and creative consulting—can all contribute to the design process. AI tools bridge the gap between these disciplines, allowing for a unified creative vision. During brainstorming sessions, designers can bring AI-generated visuals to the table, enabling more effective communication and collaboration. This speeds up decision-making and ensures that the final design is holistic and well-rounded.

Inspiration, Innovation, and Practical Applications

AI-generated content provides unique sources of inspiration that traditional methods often miss. This capability helps designers think outside the box and push the boundaries of conventional design. For instance, AI can blend textures, materials, and shapes in ways that might not occur to a human designer, leading to innovative and unexpected results.

While AI tools are powerful, human designers’ creative input and oversight remain essential. AI serves to augment human creativity, not replace it. Designers at BMW’s Designworks use AI as a starting point, a source of inspiration that can be further refined and developed. This synergy between AI and human creativity ensures the final product is technologically advanced and artistically inspired.

One illustrative example is the use of AI in automotive design. AI tools are employed to design various aspects of BMW vehicles, including both interiors and exteriors, emphasizing the integration of all elements. By visualizing how different materials and textures can be blended, AI helps create cohesive and aesthetically pleasing designs. This approach enhances the vehicle’s visual appeal and aligns with BMW’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

The practical application of AI tools is evident in various projects at BMW’s Designworks. For example, the design team often demonstrates how tools like MidJourney and Runway create design elements. They might show how an AI-generated texture can be applied to a vehicle interior or how an animated sequence can bring a design concept to life. These demonstrations provide tangible insight into AI’s capabilities and how it enhances the design process.

Technological Advancements, Competitive Advantage, and Future Outlook

AI development is rapid, with new tools and updates released frequently. This requires designers to continually update and integrate these new capabilities into their workflows. Designworks continuously explores and adopts the latest AI technologies to maintain a competitive edge.

The competitive advantage that AI provides BMW is multifaceted. First, the ability to rapidly generate and iterate on design ideas allows BMW to stay ahead of market trends and respond quickly to changing consumer preferences. This agility is crucial in the highly competitive automotive industry, where innovation and timely market entry can be decisive success factors.

Second, the democratization of creativity means that BMW can leverage the full potential of its design team, harnessing diverse perspectives and talents to create more innovative and appealing designs. This inclusive approach fosters a more dynamic and creative work environment and leads to designs that resonate more deeply with a broader range of customers.

Third, integrating AI in the design process enhances the quality and precision of BMW’s vehicles. AI tools can analyze vast amounts of data and generate optimized performance, aesthetics, and sustainability designs. This results in cars that are not only visually stunning but also technically superior, reinforcing BMW’s reputation for excellence and innovation.

The future outlook for AI in design is promising. As AI tools become more sophisticated, their integration into the design process will become even more seamless. Designers will have access to more advanced capabilities to create more complex and refined designs. This evolution will likely lead to even greater innovation and efficiency in the design process.

BMW’s Designworks studio illustrates how AI can transform the design process. By leveraging advanced tools like MidJourney, Runway, and Kaiber, the studio has improved its workflows, democratized creativity, and fostered a more collaborative environment. AI-generated content provides unique sources of inspiration, while the rapid development of AI technologies ensures that designers can continue to innovate and push the boundaries of conventional design. As AI tools become more integrated into the design process, the future of design at BMW’s Designworks looks brighter and more exciting than ever.

In embracing AI, BMW stays at the cutting edge of automotive design and secures its position as a leader in innovation, creativity, and excellence in the automotive industry.

The post How BMW’s Designworks Transforms Automotive Design Using AI Tools first appeared on Yanko Design.

Reimagining elegance through the artful design of the BMW Concept Skytop

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The BMW Concept Skytop highlights the blend of heritage and innovation, pushing the boundaries of contemporary automotive design. This concept vehicle features the distinctive shark-nose grille, which is illuminated to emphasize its assertive presence, and incorporates ultra-slim LED headlights mounted on milled aluminum carriers. Its side profile reveals an athletic stance with sculpted surfaces and sharp lines, further enhanced by unique gill-inspired wheels. The rear design, characterized by a prominent spline and a gradient transitioning from reddish-brown to muted silver, illustrates exceptional craftsmanship and painstaking attention to detail. Let’s explore the various aspects of this design in greater detail, focusing particularly on the interior from a top-down perspective.

Designer: BMW

Front and Side Design

The BMW Concept Skytop’s front design is dominated by the signature shark-nose grille, illuminated to emphasize the vehicle’s sleek and aggressive stance. This design choice reflects BMW’s rich heritage while seamlessly integrating with the contemporary LED headlights on milled aluminum carriers. The headlights’ slim profile contributes to the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and modern aesthetic.

The side profile reveals an athletic and muscular form, with taut surfaces defined by precise lines that draw attention towards the rear. The absence of conventional door handles, replaced by discreet winglets integrated into the door shoulders, enhances the car’s streamlined look. With their gill-like features, the wheels add a unique touch to the car’s silhouette, further enhancing its dynamic appearance.

The shark-nose grille, a signature BMW element, evokes a sense of heritage while integrating modern technology. The illuminated grille adds a high-tech aura to the vehicle, immediately recognizable even in low-light conditions. This illumination emphasizes the grille’s contours, adding depth and enhancing the car’s aggressive stance. Flanking the shark-nose grille are the ultra-slim LED headlights, custom-developed for the BMW Concept Skytop. Featuring a sleek design with milled aluminum carriers, the slim profile of the headlights contributes to the car’s aerodynamic efficiency and gives the front end a sharp, precise look. The headlights blend seamlessly into the bodywork, highlighting the design’s clean lines and uninterrupted flow.

The Skytop’s hood is another key element of the front end, featuring a pronounced central spine that extends from the grille towards the windshield. This spine directs airflow over the car, enhancing its aerodynamic properties. The hood’s tight and muscular surfaces reflect the vehicle’s performance capabilities, adding to its sporty character. Below the grille, the front bumper incorporates large air intakes essential for cooling the engine and brakes. These intakes also enhance the vehicle’s aggressive look, framed by sharp lines that give the front bumper a dynamic and purposeful appearance. Complementing the prominent grille is a lower grille that spans the width of the front bumper. This lower grille balances the visual weight of the front end and integrates with the overall aerodynamic design. Its mesh pattern adds a sporty touch to the front fascia.

The front end of the BMW Concept Skytop is distinguished by the seamless integration of its various elements. The illuminated shark-nose grille, slim LED headlights, and pronounced hood spine work together to create a cohesive and harmonious design. The sharp lines and precise detailing ensure that each component enhances the others, contributing to the vehicle’s overall aesthetic and functional performance.

Rear Design

The rear of the BMW Concept Skytop continues the theme of sculpted elegance, blending form and function to define the car’s overall aesthetic. Clean, sculpted lines emphasize the car’s wide and stable stance. The slim, horizontal rear lights extend across the vehicle’s width, creating a visual connection that enhances the perception of width and stability. These lights seamlessly integrate with the bodywork, maintaining the clean, uninterrupted lines that define the car’s design.

The pronounced spline running from the hood through the interior and onto the trunk lid emphasizes the car’s dynamic flow, creating visual continuity and guiding the eye smoothly along the vehicle’s length. The rear quarter panels extend the athletic and muscular form in the side profile. They flow smoothly from the front, tapering towards the rear while maintaining the car’s tight surfaces and precise lines. This continuity ensures the design remains cohesive, with the rear quarter panels contributing to the overall dynamic look.

The rear quarter panels extend the athletic and muscular form in the side profile. They flow smoothly from the front, tapering towards the rear while maintaining the car’s tight surfaces and precise lines. This continuity ensures the design remains cohesive, with the rear quarter panels contributing to the overall dynamic look. The subtle lip on the trunk lid and the integrated rear spoiler add sporty touches and improve aerodynamics, ensuring optimal performance. The color gradient from a reddish-brown roof to a muted silver exterior with a chrome shadow effect showcases meticulous craftsmanship and intricate paintwork, enhancing the car’s luxurious feel. Every detail, from the lighting elements to the color transitions, is thoughtfully executed to create a cohesive and harmonious design that complements the BMW Concept Skytop’s dynamic character.

Interior and Top-Down Perspective

The BMW Concept Skytop’s interior meticulously combines luxury and functionality. Its reddish-brown leather surfaces, adorned with brogue-style accents, create a unified and luxurious atmosphere. The leather-finished sports bar behind the seats, the side fins on the B-pillar, and a fully retractable rear window contribute to the car’s sporty and elegant aura.

The dashboard exemplifies modern automotive design, featuring crystal applications seamlessly embedded into the cockpit. These elements enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and showcase BMW’s craftsmanship in blending contemporary design elements. The center console, with its sleek design and intuitive layout, ensures all controls are easily accessible to the driver, further enhancing the driving experience. The steering wheel, wrapped in the same reddish-brown leather as the seats, features a modern design that integrates seamlessly with the rest of the interior. The digital display behind the wheel provides the driver with all necessary information clearly and concisely, ensuring that the focus remains on the road.

Viewing the BMW Concept Skytop from a top-down perspective offers a clear insight into the car’s cohesive design. This perspective showcases the seamless integration of exterior and interior elements, with the pronounced spline running the length of the vehicle, reinforcing the unified and continuous design language. The two removable roof parts, finished in leather, can be stored in a special compartment in the luggage space, showcasing BMW’s attention to practicality without compromising style. The retractable rear window further enhances the open-air experience, allowing for an unobstructed view of the surroundings.

Roof Design

The roof of the BMW Concept Skytop is a crucial element in its design, both when on and off. When the roof is on, it maintains the car’s sleek silhouette, with the reddish-brown tone flowing into the muted silver of the body. This color gradient, crafted by BMW’s master painters, ensures a smooth transition that enhances the vehicle’s visual appeal. The roof’s design also includes a central spine that aligns with the hood’s spine, maintaining the design’s continuity from front to back.

When the roof is off, the BMW Concept Skytop transforms into an open-top roadster, emphasizing its luxurious and sporty nature. The interior’s reddish-brown leather, visible with the roof off, complements the exterior color scheme, ensuring that the car remains visually appealing from all angles. The fully retractable rear window and the storage compartment for the roof parts are designed for practicality without compromising the car’s aesthetic.

Design Cohesion and Final Thoughts

Integrating the rear design elements with the rest of the BMW Concept Skytop is masterful. The rear lights, quarter panels, and roof design all contribute to the car’s overall aesthetic, creating a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements. The design ensures that the Skytop maintains its elegant and dynamic appearance, whether the roof is on or off.

My final thought of the BMW Concept Skytop is that it’s a vision of the future that honors the past. With every detail precisely crafted, from the illuminated shark-nose grille to the brogue-style leather accents in the interior, BMW demonstrates its dedication to superior design and craftsmanship. The Skytop’s seamless blend of aesthetics and functionality makes it a remarkable example of automotive design. Whether admired for its innovative engineering or luxurious finishes, the BMW Concept Skytop is a realization of the brand’s enduring legacy and forward-thinking approach.

 

 

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The Art of Speed: Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car

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Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car

In the heart of Paris, at the iconic Centre Pompidou, the air buzzed with anticipation. Art lovers, racing enthusiasts, and curious onlookers gathered, all drawn by the promise of a unique revelation. This was no ordinary exhibit; it was the world premiere of Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car, the 20th in a storied lineage that melds the worlds of high art and high performance.

Designer: BMW + Julie Mehretu

Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car Art Car

Julie Mehretu, renowned for her expansive, intricate canvases, stood before the crowd, her excitement palpable. She had transformed the BMW M Hybrid V8, a machine of sheer power and precision, into a dynamic piece of art. This wasn’t just a car but a performative painting set to race in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.

As the cover was pulled off the car, I can only imagine the gasps rippling through the audience. The vehicle’s surface was a riot of colors and forms, inspired by Mehretu’s monumental painting “Everywhen.” She had digitally altered photographs, layering dot grids, neon veils, and her signature black markings to create a three-dimensional masterpiece. This artwork was not confined to a gallery but was destined for the grueling, high-speed arena of Le Mans.

Mehretu’s painting “Everywhen”

In her studio, surrounded by sketches and digital models, Mehretu had envisioned the car as it would appear at breakneck speeds, the colors and shapes blurring into an exhilarating visual experience. “I imagined the car as if it had raced through my painting,” she explained. “I wanted it to seem like the car had absorbed the painting, transforming into something new and dynamic.”

This vision of speed and art was more than a personal achievement; it was a continuation of a legacy. The BMW Art Car series began in 1975 when French racing driver Hervé Poulain commissioned artist Alexander Calder to paint his car. Over the years, this intersection of art and motorsport has attracted legends like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jeff Koons, each artist bringing their unique perspective to BMW’s high-performance vehicles.

Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car Art Car

Mehretu’s creation stood proudly among these iconic predecessors. Her Art Car showcased her artistic ingenuity and the technical brilliance of the BMW M Hybrid V8. Underneath the vibrant exterior lay a hybrid electric drivetrain capable of producing 640 horsepower and reaching speeds of 345 km/h. This blend of art and engineering made the BMW Art Car series so compelling.

In the weeks leading up to Le Mans, the car stopped at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este, where it was displayed alongside other historic BMW Art Cars. As Mehretu presented her creation, she spoke of the collaboration between artist and engineer, of turning a race car into a canvas that captured the essence of movement and energy.

Mehretu’s process of envisioning the Art Car involved imagining the physical and emotional experience of racing at high speeds. In her studio, she surrounded herself with sketches and digital models, immersing herself in motorsport and engineering. Her goal was to create a car that would not only perform on the track but also convey a sense of kinetic energy and fluidity through its design.

“I wanted the car to feel as if it had raced through my painting,” she said, highlighting her desire to merge art and performance. Mehretu’s artistic vision was to make the car appear as though it had absorbed the painting, transforming it into something new and dynamic. This transformation was visual and conceptual, as the car embodied the fusion of speed, art, and technology.

The car’s design elements—digitally altered photographs, layered dot grids, neon veils, and black markings—were meticulously chosen to create a sense of movement and energy. These elements, characteristic of Mehretu’s work, were applied to the three-dimensional surface of the car using 3D mapping technology. The result was a vehicle that seemed in perpetual motion, even stationary.

But the story didn’t end there. Mehretu’s involvement with BMW extended beyond the racetrack. She and the automaker had launched the PanAfrican Translocal Media Workshops, a series of events to nurture young artists across Africa. These workshops, set to tour cities like Dakar, Marrakech, and Cape Town, would culminate in a grand exhibition at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. The fusion of art, technology, and social responsibility would inspire a new generation of creators.

Leading up to Le Mans, Mehretu’s BMW Art Car made an appearance at the Concorso d’Eleganza at Villa d’Este. This prestigious event, held on the picturesque shores of Lake Como, brought together a collection of historic and contemporary BMW Art Cars. Here, the 20th Art Car stood alongside works by Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, and Jeff Koons. Each of these artists had left their mark on BMW’s vehicles, creating a lineage of art that celebrated innovation and creativity.

In a special presentation, Julie Mehretu discussed her creation with Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design. Their conversation delved into the process of transforming a race car into a performative piece of art, highlighting the collaborative effort between artist and engineer. Mehretu reflected on her experience at Daytona, where she witnessed the BMW M Hybrid V8 in action, feeling the power and precision that would soon bring her art to life on the racetrack.

Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car symbolizes artistic and technological synergy. As it sped down the track at Le Mans, the vibrant colors and dynamic forms would blur into a visual spectacle, capturing the essence of art and speed. This Art Car exemplified the power of creative collaboration and the enduring legacy of the BMW Art Car series, a tradition that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the worlds of art and motorsport.

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BMW uses 3D printing for German bobsleigh team’s footwear

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Most sports are dictated by the skill and prowess of the athletes competing but there are also some sports where the sportswear and footwear that they wear can contribute to how they perform. But not all of these sports have customizable or flexible footwear to help the athletes out. Bobsleigh is one such sport and with the Winter Olympics a year away, Germany is partnering with BMW to give their team better footwear to help them compete at the top level.

Designer: BMW

The BMW Group is the technology partner of the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federatin (BSD) and they have come up with customizable spiked shoes for the bobsleigh team using the power of 3D printing. Regular bobsleigh footwear have defined rows of nails attached to the toe area but these are not replaceable or moveable. Based on track and field shoes, which are more flexible, they came up with threads for screw spikes which are used to attach spike plates on which spike nails can be distributed.

This means that the spikes can be adjusted to a large selection of shoe styles, sizes, and other aspects to make them more comfortable and suitable for the athletes’ needs. You can also adjust the material and geometry of the plates and the placement of the spike nails, giving better acceleration according to the power transmission on the ice. And since 3D printing is used, they get to be more flexible and test out the spikes and make adjustments, without having to spend a fortune and spend so much time manufacturing.

They were able to test out the spike plates during the Bobsleigh World Cup (which ends later this month) and so far, they were able to get positive feedback from the athletes that they made them for. Of course there are still changes that need to be made but they do have 11 months to go for it before the Winter Olympics in February 2025. We’ll also see by then what effect these spikes have on the German team’s performance.

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