BMW's new infotainment throws everything at the window
BMW's iDrive debuted in 2001. And no, we can hardly believe that it was already 24 years ago that the construct, which was still extremely confusing at the time, was first used in the 7 Series (E 65). A lot has happened since then, technology has become bigger, better, more sophisticated and more advanced. But the latest upgrade you see here could be the most significant yet.
The new iDrive system from Bavaria doesn't give a damn about the trend towards ever larger screens, gets rid of the classic instrument display and transports significantly more information towards the windshield, so that the driver can keep an eye on everything important.
BMW calls its pioneering work "Panoramic Vision" and in fact this system will be installed as standard in every New Class model, regardless of the engine.
Panoramic Vision completely frees itself from the conventional cockpit layout of current BMW models. You won't find a classic instrument display. Instead, elements are projected onto a single screen at the bottom of the windshield, which uses the entire width from A-pillar to A-pillar. The thing seems to us like a head-up display on steroids.
There will still be a central screen. We see a touchscreen in parallelogram form. Everything is managed by BMW's new, Android-based "Operating System X". The same is also the key to the so-called "Shy Tech". To explain, let's take a look at the steering wheel. It may look quite packed at first glance, but all the functions only light up when they are actually available. So, for example, when you get a call, the buttons you need to answer or reject the call will light up. The rest of the time, you won't see the buttons.
Some of the changes are questionable. Because the driver no longer has to look through the steering wheel to read the instruments, BMW has designed the steering wheel as if it were upside down. This takes at least some getting used to. On the other hand, we think it makes more than sense to move the controls and displays into the driver's field of vision to minimize distractions.
Sure, we wouldn't complain about more physical buttons here either, but keep in mind that this is still a study of the system. When BMW's Panoramic Vision goes into production later this year, we'll take a closer look at what the Munich-based company has planned for the future of car interiors.
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