Car designing of BMW X

First, it is a matter of understanding the future vehicle and the context in which it will be driven. Designers have to understand far in advance what will be regarded as modern and cutting-edge in tomorrow’s world – and how BMW customers’ needs may have changed by then.

Designers gain their inspiration from a wide variety of sources – ranging from fashion and architecture all over the world to nature. However, they can also get ideas from the BMW advanced team’s top-secret vehicle projects and concept cars

My first point of contact with a new model is a blank sheet of paper and a pencil,” says Anders Thogersen, exterior designer of the BMW X5. “In your mind, you have a certain spirit and character that you want to bring to the car. These initial hand-drawn sketches do not answer all the questions, but they serve as an abstract guide to the subsequent design process.”

However, the BMW designers do not have a completely free hand. They must rather comply with requirements for the defined character of the future vehicle as well as technical conditions such as the wheelbase, trunk volume or safety requirements.

All the available technological innovations need to be included in such a way that future users perceive them as functional, sensible and visually fascinating at the same time. “A BMW should always tell at first sight what you can experience with it,” says exterior designer Anders Thogersen.