With its study “BMW i Vision Circular”, the carmaker sets out to offer an outlook on the circular economy in 2040 and its possible products. The concept car represents the BMW Group’s aim of becoming the most sustainable manufacturer of premium individual mobility solutions. For that reason, the principles of a circular economy were borne in mind throughout the design, development and manufacturing of the vehicle. As far as its design goes, the study shows an outlook on “a compact, fully electric vehicle focusing on sustainability and luxury for 2040”. Optimised for closed material loops, the BMW i Vision Circular aims to achieve 100% recycled materials and/or 100% recyclability. According to BMW, the basis for implementing this vision is “the use of our circular design principles: re:think, re:duce, re:use and re:cycle”.
The vehicle’s exterior design is intended to embody “an appealing aesthetic of sustainability”: its “monovolume consists of just a few parts; the number of materials has been minimised”. One particularly eye-catching feature is the minimalist front section with its digital reinterpretation of BMW’s trademark kidney grille, which appears as a “light signature” reduced to a handful of graphic elements. The interior is made exclusively from recycled materials, with the i Vision Circular pursuing the aim of “creating a luxurious ambience using materials and production processes which reflect a responsible approach to the environment and resources”. The instrument panel is a suspended V-shaped sculpture which projects into the interior. Another key aspect of the i Vision Circular is a conscious approach to disassembly, which BMW calls “joyful fusion”. Various components can be broken down into their individual monomaterials quickly and easily thanks to separable joints.
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