BMW is one of the world’s most well-known car brands, having made a wide range of iconic models.
However, while the German brand’s production vehicles are recognised around the globe, its concept vehicles are a little more obscure.
We’ve put together a list of some of the weird and wonderful BMWs that you didn’t see on dealer forecourts.
BMW iX3
Unveiled at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show in April, the iX3 serves as BMW’s preview of what motorists can expect from the brand’s electric SUVs in the future.
The concept featured fifth-generation eDrive technology and offers 270bhp, while the 70kWh battery allows for a range of more than 249 miles.
The striking looking car also boasts the ability to use one of BMW’s new state-of-the-art Charging Control Units to refill its battery in just 30 minutes.
BMW M8 Gran Coupé
Drawing inspiration from BMW’s heritage in motorsport, the M8 Gran Coupe concept is based on the M8 GTE Le Mans racing car.
The elegant coupe embodies BMW’s latest design language, with an aesthetic sense of movement being channelled by the green and gold body.
The car features a number of M design elements, such as an iconic BMW kidney grille, M gills, M brake calipers and M twin tailpipes. It also has unique 21-inch M light-alloy wheels, with star shaped double spokes that have a two-tone gold and black finish.
BMW i Vision Dynamics
Introduced last year, the i Vision Dynamics was an amalgamation of the i3 and i8 and was designed to showcase how BMW envisages the future of electric mobility.
The German manufacturer said that the concept had a range of 373 miles, a top speed of 120mph and a 0-60mph time of less than four seconds.
The car’s design was highly futuristic, with L-shaped rear lights and an advancement of the classic front end, with the four lights and kidney grille look remaining in an updated form.
BMW Concept Z4
This concept is a preview of what the next BMW Z4 could look like, with the previous generation model having left production in 2016.
The bold and sporty roadster combines sculpted lines with a wedge-shaped design and retracted bonnet to create an athletic exterior aesthetic.
BMW says that the car has a mix of minimalism and eccentricity. There are no distracting features on the car – everything is directed towards the driver and their experience behind the wheel.
BMW Vision Next 100
In 2016, BMW celebrated its 100th birthday. As part of this, it unveiled the Vision Next 100 – a car that symbolised the direction the marque expects to go over the course of the next century.
The concept featured a self-learning system called the Companion. It appeared as a large, polished gemstone sitting in the middle of the dashboard and provided assistance to the driver in every situation. Another futuristic aspect was Alive Geometry – a mosaic made up of 800 triangles that move and change colour to warn of potential dangers.
There were also two driving modes – Ease Mode, which was fully autonomous and guaranteed a safe, comfortable journey, and Boost Mode, which gave the driver full control of the car and presented ideal driving lines, as well as braking, steering and acceleration points, via a head-up display.
BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage
The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage from 2015 was the BMW design team’s tribute to the 3.0 CSL from the 1970s.
The concept’s elongated body featured distinctive air deflectors, powerful wheel arches, and prominent spoilers on the roof and tail. Aerodynamic elements enabled air to flow optimally along the front, sides and rear of the car.
Aerodynamic drag was also reduced by Air Curtain and Air Breather systems, which ventilated the wheel housings. The car was finished in Golf Yellow – one of the original colours of its spiritual predecessor.
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