BMW Motorrad’s New Concept Shows Off a Cyberpunk Future for Scooters

BMW Motorrad continues to show it isn’t afraid to have some fun with its concepts.

The German automaker’s motorcycle division is bringing an outrageous scooter prototype called the Vision CE to this year’s International Motor Show in Munich. Like the Titan motorcycle before it, the single-seater is meant to offer up an exciting glimpse of what the brand’s two-wheeled future may look like.

BMW has shown a willingness to rethink the way it designs scooters in recent years, but the Vision CE is easily its most visually striking concept yet. The German brand’s latest electric creation features a distinct cyberpunk style similar to that of the Definiton CE concept that debuted in the fall of 2020, and eventually went into production. But whereas the earlier prototype still looked like a scooter you could see zipping around any urban center, the Vision CE looks like an entirely different class of vehicle.

That’s because the concept has a feature you won’t find on any of BMW Motorrad’s current scooters: a roll cage. The unique structure, which is made up of two aluminum bars, is mean to offer protective cover for the rider, even if they’re not wearing a helmet or safety gear. It won’t dramatically change the experience or riding, either, since it is an open-air cage. It also allows for the inclusion of two other safety features you won’t find on many other scooters: a seat with a headrest and a harness.

The Vision CE’s roll cage isn’t its only forward-thinking feature, though. BMW didn’t say much about the scooter’s mechanical abilities—other than that it is battery powered—but did reveal that it has a self-balancing function. It’s unclear how this would affect the riding experience, but it sounds as if the feature will allow you to park the two-wheeler without putting down a kickstand. It’s easy to imagine this feature being particularly useful while running errands.

The big question surrounding the Vision CE, as with all concepts, is whether or not it will ever make it to market. As of now, BMW isn’t saying one way or the other. But this decade has shown that the company’s car and motorcycle divisions aren’t opposed to putting slightly toned-down versions of its most attention-grabbing prototypes into production.

Click here for more photos of the BMW Motorrad Vision CE.