Industrial - Bachelors

Supercar Interior Exploration BMW Vision Emergence

This project was initiated with BMW Group + QUT Design Academy. The project primarily explores the user experience within the ingress and egress of future supercars. Furthermore the project explores emerging technology within the context of the automotive space highlighting 2035 electrification and an imminent influx of new vehicles / new technology on the road. These themes have been distilled into a design response in the form of a BMW concept car, the Vision Emergence.

Mitchell Hoye

Purpose Statement

The Vision Emergence is not a car that runs on water, drives at the speed of sound and saves the rainforest. The BMW Vision Emergence is a conceptual automotive experience filling the gap in the concept car space regarding the transition between interior and exterior, the point of ingress and egress and how focusing on this space between the door and the interior can greatly enhance the users supercar experience. This experience further focuses on introducing emerging technology into the automotive space to highlight how it could be used in future vehicles accessible to the average consumer with an immense influx of new vehicles on the roads as mass electrification approaches.

Sketch of BMW Vision Emergence

Research

The design response was born out of primary and secondary research conducted throughout the first stage of the project. There were a total of 20 survey participants, 10 from the wider car community asked to explain their thoughts on supercar design aspects and the other 10 being performance vehicle owners (sports cars, supercars) who were questioned in regards to experiences and preferences regarding their vehicles. Additionally this research was cross referenced with secondary research examining emerging tech, transport future, interactions, psychology, culture and demographics. There were a multitude of points identified from this research with five of the most influential displayed below.

Owners greatly enjoy getting into their cars, Interior: practicality, uniqueness & controls, Overall: technical aspects, uniqueness and emotion, Preference towards tactile touch points, Future context will greatly influence supercar design

oUTCOME

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Virtual Windscreen

Virtual Windscreen

The Vision Emergence doesn’t utilise a glass windscreen instead providing the user with a digital display inside the vehicle, when driving the view outside is constructed from a series of cameras and lidar arrays within the grill of the vehicle, maintaining the relevance of having such a prominent grill on an electric vehicle. The virtual windscreen adds mystique and sleekness to the exterior whilst aesthetically highlighting innovation. The interior is better hidden from the user as they approach the vehicle, synergising with the door opening action to create a reveal. Within the context of the interior the display can be utilised as means of entertainment when autonomous driving is in use or as a means of fully integrating driver aids into the driver view.
Doors open

Canopy Doors

The Vision Emergence employs a dramatic door opening action to further exaggerate and emphasise the process of entering the vehicle. The side doors rise upwards with the roof and unfold. This action enhances the practicality of entering the vehicle through raising the roof as inconvenient entry impacts the users perceived enjoyment of the the interaction. The movement of the doors is intended to add drama and excitement to the entrance experience whilst having the interior emerge from the car and out into the exterior space, further bridging the transition between exterior and interior.
ar MAT

AR Welcome Mat

The AR welcome mat is a physical projection deployed from under the vehicle using a laser projection system, this feature extends the interaction and the ingress and egress experience beyond the bounds of the vehicle and into the surrounding environment. The projection highlights any hazards on the ground to the user when entering and exiting the vehicle. Furthermore this aspect of the design is expanded with personal augmented reality technology with virtual projections appearing around the vehicle as the door opens.


Door Inside

Door Details

Performance vehicle owners had a strong preference towards tactile controls within the vehicle interior thus the internal door handle has an exaggerated presence and promotes a satisfying tactile interaction. The door features motion lighting to further highlight the handle whilst enhancing the visual sensation of movement in the users peripheral vision. The rear area of the door acts as a support on the users side with padding and seamlessly transitions the door into the seating.
Vehicle interior

Interior Design

The wider vehicle interior has been designed in a more minimalistic way in order to better champion the ingress and egress experience. BMW E-ink panel technology is employed throughout the interior to offer endless customisation of the interior materials through a digital means. Circular materials such as recycled carbon fibre and recycled textiles are used within the interior of the vehicle to highlight emerging sustainable materials within the automotive space.

vIDEO sHOWCASE
BMW group + QUT design academy

Mitchell Hoye

Mitchell is an ambitious industrial designer from Brisbane Queensland educated in both interaction and industrial design. Hoping to excel at manifesting evocative yet palatable design outputs with a focus on unique aesthetics, future thinking, manufacturing and circularity. He showcases adaptability, independence and a strong work ethic within his workflow.