BMW will unleash a new road beast in 2021 and it is going to be driverless.
The market once dominated by Tesla appears to be invaded by more and more tech companies like Uber, Ford, Bosch, and now BMW. Do note that Mercedes-Benz also announced that it will reveal its own autonomous vehicle in 2020. What would be the strengths of the 2021 prototypes?
BMW driverless car: Way better
Tech Crunch reported that the BMW self-driving car will have Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 capabilities. For one thing, Level 5 autonomy allows the vehicle to handle any driving scenario in any area without needing any human intervention. The model is currently known as the Vision Next 100.
While most competitors already plan to release Level 4 autonomous vehicles in the next 5 years, BMW wants to take its time and deliver a slow but very powerful blow. Well, the Level 4 cars could maneuver without human help too, but in selected areas only. The concept of the Vision Next 100 was revealed in October last year alongside a futuristic motorcycle design.
For the record, Level 3 cars still require drivers who intervene only when needed and are not required to be constantly watching things. Meanwhile, BMW is reportedly working with Intel and its newly acquired Israeli company, Mobileye, to accomplish its dream product. Nevertheless, Tesla still seems to be leading the pack (for now) as it is already in the demo stage of the Level 5 vehicle. It plans for a risky, but amazing, cross-country drive before 2018.
Possible design: BMW Vision Next 100
Per Business Insider, the BMW Vision Next 100 might look very sleek and clear of any lies and accessories. It will recognize the driver and will even greet him or her with a light-up sign. Moreover, the tech toy allegedly remembers the owner's driving preference and automatically sets up the car.
On the other hand, the steering wheel moves to the center when the BMW Vision Next 100 is in the Ease mode. Well, the Ease mode is the self-driving function of the car while the manual option is called the Boost mode. The wheels, meanwhile, makes a beautiful fluid motion when turning around corners. When in Boost mode, the console shows information like the route and warning signs for oncoming obstacles.
