BMW' s Latest Patent Is Out Of This World Extraordinary CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home News BMW' s Latest Patent Is Out Of This World Extraordinary

BMW' s Latest Patent Is Out Of This World Extraordinary

Mar. 29, 2020 5:20 PM ET by Jay Traugott Technology / Comments Yes, this is really happening. Not every concept car makes it to production, though it's not uncommon to still see various components do so. Remember, concept cars serve as both design and technology displays of what, theoretically, is possible. BMW regularly brings concepts to auto shows and they typically make production. The BMW Concept 4, for example, directly previews the next-generation BMW 4 Series. But sometimes an extremely wild concept arrives, such as 2016's BMW Vision Next 100 Concept. This radical vehicle served as both a tech and styling preview of what the German automaker thinks the future will look like. And inspiration from one of its many high-tech components has just taken a big step towards production. BMW X2 Forum has uncovered a patent application for an insanely cool shape-shifting steering wheel. BMW BMW BMW BMW The included patent images show this advanced new steering wheel's capability to change shape in order to take up less space in the cabin when the vehicle is in autonomous mode, going from a circular to an oval-like shape. Another interesting function is that it can change shape while still in use by the driver in order to alert them to any number of threats, such as an incoming car or slowed traffic ahead. This shape-changing can reportedly be done faster than any voice or sound notification, thus improving safety and reducing the risk of a crash. BMW X2 Forum BMW X2 Forum BMW In the case of the Vision Next 100 Concept, its steering wheel was able to fold completely into the dashboard. It doesn't appear this new steering wheel can do that too, but bear in mind this is only the first step towards more advanced steering wheels for the self-driving car era. It's still way too soon to know which new BMW vehicle this steering wheel could first appear in, but we wouldn't be surprised it'll be for one of the automaker's upcoming electric vehicles, such as the just-announced all-electric variant of the next-generation BMW 7 Series. BMW has not even officially confirmed the existence of this new type of steering wheel so we'll just have to wait patiently for its arrival. BMW BMW BMW BMW Source Credits: BMW X2 Forum

Join The Discussion

Add first comment

Gallery

11 Photos Tags: #BMW News #Concept #Luxury #Technology

Related Cars

BMW 7 Series LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top