Langer spoke about the need to rethink the way we design and build cars, as our environmental responsibilities change, which is why the i Vision Circular is made entirely from recycled materials. For example, all of the aluminum and steel are secondary materials, meaning they’ve already been used elsewhere, were recycled, and then used again in the i Vision Circular. Which is where it gets its name, as it helps continue the circular life cycle of recyclable materials.

He also spoke about the design itself, which was meant to create a sense of minimalism. For instance, the front end was intentionally oversimplified, reducing the amount of visual information you normally see on a car. The iconic BMW kidney grilles were repurposed as digital headlights, combining the two features and thus reducing the design elements on the front end. The body wasn’t even painted but given a gold effect, again reducing materials.

Recyclability continues to the interior, which is also made using either secondary materials or materials that can be repurposed after use in the i Vision Circular. It also features some very funky tech, which looks more like a the console of an alien spacecraft that anything else. Interestingly, it also shows off the Hofmeister Kink from the inside.

If you’re interested in the BMW i Vision Circular’s design, check out the video below to see why it looks the way it does and how it’s designed to help create a more sustainable future of auto-making.

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At its core, the BMW i Vision Circular is a four-meter long, four-seat electric vehicle with a small visual footprint but a capacious interior. However, it’s far cleverer than that. Every single material used on the i Vision Circular is either a secondary material — a material that’s already been used in another product’s life cycle — or one that’s sustainably sourced and recyclable. BMW didn’t just throw some recycled fabrics on the seats and call it a day, though. BMW took every single part and reimagined how it could be made and used.

There’s no bonding or composite materials used in the construction of the i Vision Circular. Instead, clever fasteners such as cords, press-studs, and quick release fasters are used. Even the wheels get center lock fasteners, with a specialized socket wrench remove them, thus reducing the amount of materials needed to secure the wheels to the hubs. More than that, the same socket wrench can be used to remove several other components of the vehicle, again reducing the materials needed.

To save even more material, the BMW i Vision Circular isn’t even painted. Instead, the body panels are finished in anodized light gold, which BMW calls Anodized Mystic Bronze. At the rear end of the car, the rear panels and tailgate are made from heat-treated steel, giving the body a contrasting look BMW calls “Tempered Blue Steel”. Even the tires are made from certified, sustainably-sourced rubber, which BMW calls a “Vivid Blue Rubber”. Recycled rubber is added to the tire compound, giving it a “terrazzo” look.

Inside, very thick, plush looking seats are upholstered in a recycled fabric and get pillowy headrests. The high-pile carpet is also made from recycled plastics, keeping the interior as recycled as possible.

However, what dominates the cabin is the dashboard, which features a massive crystal-like structure that features glowing nerve-like lights throughout that give the impression the car is thinking. It’s very odd and unique. That same material is used  throughout the cabin, as it sweeps along the tops of the door panels and up to the C-pillar, accentuating BMW’s signature Hofmeister Kink from the inside.

One really cool feature is the steering wheel, which is 3D printed and can be made with wood powder, giving it a lovely wood-grain look. However, the steering wheel itself is very odd looking, with an unusual four-spoke design that features a vertical spoke at the top of the wheel. We’ve never seen that before and don’t really love how it looks but it’s certainly unique. Additionally, the two side spokes are sort of floating, which is interesting.

As you drive the BMW i Vision Circular, you’ll be greeted by some interesting noises as well. To make the interior feel more alive, Hans Zimmer was hired to assist Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound for BMW, in creating a sound profile that accentuates the circularity of the concept car.

BMW claims the i Vision Circular gets a solid-state battery pack, which would be an industry first. Though, it is just a concept car, so BMW isn’t actually going to sell an EV with a solid-state battery anytime soon.

It’s a very funky looking car, the BMW i Vision Circular. Its kidney grilles and headlights are integrated into one digital unit, the wheels are aerodynamic, and the rear lights are built into a single glass panel. The most interesting aspect of it, though, is its circular recyclability, hence the name. While BMW likely won’t sell this exact car, it does give the brand ideas of how to create more sustainable vehicles moving forward.

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Earlier today, BMW issued a press release, detailing the goals that are to be achieved by its new platform: the Neue Klasse. In it, there was a lot of talk about secondary materials, recycling and circular economics. To this end, the company will offer a visionary outlook on the potential of the aforementioned circular economy and sustainable mobility in the shape of the BMW i Vision Circular concept.

According to BMW, the visionary vehicle, designed according to the four principles of the circular economy Re:think, Re:duce, Re:use, Re:cycle, shows how individual, sustainable and luxurious urban mobility could look in 2040. The BMW i Vision Circular is manufactured from 100 percent secondary materials or renewable raw materials, and is 100 percent recyclable. This car demonstrates that climate protection and individual mobility do not necessarily contradict each other.

On the contrary, with some careful design and smart thinking, cars like the BMW i Vision Circular could become reality and help us in saving the world we live in, without having to cut back on the luxury of personal mobility. BMW will also announce its full plans for the so-called circular economy at the IAA in Munich, under the RE:BMW motto. This will entail not just recycling cars but also designing them in such a way that they can be recycled in the first place.

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