BMW released the second chapter of its four-part documentary series, "Wherever You Want to Go," which focuses on the future of mobility, cities, and technology. "The future just isn't what it used to be" is a 6-minute, 42-second clip showing interviews with transportation and technology leaders such as Buzz Aldrin, Google's Marissa Mayer, and former Zipcar CEO Robin Chase to discuss the future of the automobile.The experts all say the same thing: start thinking small.
Despite the advances of aeronautics in recent years that may make suborbital travel possible, the automobile hasn't quite made that same technological leap. Cars don't work that differently from the way they did when they were first invented. And with the need to focus on sustainable transportation technology, you can shelve dreams of flying cars and jet packs for the masses (at least for the near future). Instead, start cozying up to the idea of small, efficient vehicles that drive themselves and are better suited for use in dense metropolitan areas.
It's almost like BMW is telling its viewers, "Prepare to be disappointed." Or at the very least, "Manage your expectations."
The weekly documentary series is leading up to BMW's announcement of the official name for its Megacity Vehicle (MCV) on February 21. The vehicle is intended for cities with dense urban populations of more than 5 million people. Only sketches of the vehicle are circulating the Internet, but it's assumed the car is going to be small, front-wheel-drive, and fuel-efficient--the exact opposite of what BMW is known for now. The commuter vehicle is such a departure from BMW's typical mantra of cars for people who love to drive that it will be marketed under a new sub-brand, which is also yet to be named.
