Shown to the public for the first time in Geneva back in early 2011, BMW’s futuristic roadster dubbed ‘Vision ConnectedDrive’ took the world by surprise. To the uninformed eye, the ConnectedDrive looks like the aftermath of a steamy affair between the i8 EfficientDynamics and last year’s 328 Hommage. But underneath its exciting futuristic design lies something that sets this concept apart from anything else you’ve ever come across, namely, layers.

The Vision ConnectedDrive has purposely been built to expose the different layers of tech gadgetry that promise to revolutionize the infotainment, safety, and convenience features as we know them. Fibre optics in various colours define the three levels and underscore the difference between each distinct area. The “safety layer” displays relevant driving information on a three-dimensional iteration of BMW’s head-up display, while the “infotainment layer” offers movies, music, and Internet access to the passenger at the swipe of a finger. The infotainment is also extended to the driver by means of a concierge service and “emotional browser” that relates music and passing architecture to the driver’s interests. The “comfort layer”, which makes up the entire car, debuts car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications.

Lastly, researchers at the Polytechnic School of Montreal have developed the “smart fabrics” that make up much of the Vision ConnectedDrive’s interior. It works by registering touches ad swipes when alternating currents are sent through the fibres. While the technology behind it is tough to explain, the hypothetical idea of simply swiping your seat to activate its ventilation feature is simple enough to understand and absolutely awe-inspiring to imagine.

At the end of the day, the Vision ConnectedDrive is as much a peek in to BMW’s technology department as it is a distant preview of what BMWs of the future will look like. The 2012 apocalypse aside, we’d say the future looks bright!

Rumor has it that the Vision ConnectedDrive will make its Canadian Premiere at the Toronto Autoshow this February. If you’re planning on going then stop by our Facebook page in the coming weeks as we’ll be handing out daily free ticket packages to the Auto Show! Endras BMW Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/EndrasBMW