Designing cars has been a process that allow the BMW Group to produce many iconic cars, and some of these cars has gone on to define automotive eras. Being at the forefront of automotive designing, BMW Group do have some controversial designs that redefines and challenges the status quo.
The latest model in BMW line-up to join the line of controversial design are the All-New BMW M3 Sedan and All-New BMW M4 Coupé. These cars combines the potent performances of ‘M’ with a future-focused and emotionally moving design that was 1st feature on the new BMW 430i Coupé M Sport.
In order to help Malaysian understand the basics of car designing, BMW Malaysia will be taking us on a journey to understand the design process that precedes every BMW model conception – a culmination of work, years in the making.
Step 1, in order to future proof the vehicle design, BMW designers needs to understand the direction of tomorrow’s world. Designers usually gets their inspiration from a wide variety of sources ranging from fashion and architecture, to nature. Some of the time, BMW designers also gain inspiration from the BMW advanced team’s top-secret vehicle projects and concept cars.
Step 2, BMW designers will have an internal competition begins with sketches, where designers initially express their ideas in countless hand-drawn impression. BMW designers have to also 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, while including all the available technological innovations.
Step 3, apart from the sketches, the designers will also put a 1:1 scale drawing on a wall. This is also known as tape drawings, where the proportion of the vehicle will be made using the flexible tape to map out the future vehicle with all technical and structural features.
Step 4, the designers will now use computer-aided styling (CAS) to turn a 2 dimensional sketch into a virtual 3 dimensional design that can be view in Virtual Reality (VR). With VR, it allows the developers and designers to work on the design process, thus making it more efficient.
Step 5, now is the time for the designers to bring the design from a CAS into real life. The selected designer will now create their 3 dimensional design in a 1:1 scale from clay. These clay model are consist of a basic frame made of wood and metal that is coated by foam, a layer of clay will be laid on top of the frame. The designers will use a variety of tools to perfect the look of the clay design. Lastly, the designers will wrap a special sheeting on the design to imitate the effect of car paintwork. 
Step 6, this is where the interior designer start working on the interior sketches, which they also made it out of clay. In so-called seat boxes, they also make the entire interior come alive – from seats and retails, to surfaces and materials. Again, with the help VR, it made looking around the virtual car possible. 
Step 7, in this last step, BMW Design has a dedicated team for the detailed car design, as well as for colours and materials. The exterior and interior will be fine-tune by the experts while coordinating with the designers, engineers, and production technicians to bring the car to life.
The All-New BMW 430i Coupé M Sport will be priced at RM 390,033.47, the All-New BMW M3 Competition will be priced at RM 639,664.14, and the All-New BMW M4 Competition Coupé will priced at RM 659,357.03 with the SST Exemption. Without the SST Exemption it will be priced at RM 405,680.00, RM 664,800.00, and RM 684,800.00 respectively. To learn more about BMW Design, visit https://www.bmw.com/en/design.html.
