BMW iDrive 8 Unveiled as Infotainment System for the Future
BMW has just introduced the eighth generation of its iDrive infotainment system, 20 years after the technology debuted in the 7 Series sedan. With today’s vehicles being more sophisticated and more loaded with functions than ever, designers had a lot of work on their plate, that’s for sure.
What started as a simple digital display combined with a rotary controller on the centre console has become a comprehensive environment aimed at understanding and anticipating the needs of the driver and passengers in order to offer the most intuitive and personalized driving experience possible, BMW says.
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The upcoming iX crossover and i4 sedan—both fully electric—will be the first models to incorporate iDrive 8.
A new customer experience welcomes the driver and invites them into their BMW with a choreographed routine. It all starts with illumination of the area around the vehicle and its interior before the doors unlock automatically and the cabin is prepared for the occupants. This can be set using “My Modes” (Efficient, Sport, Personal), a new feature that allows users to adjust many other vehicle functions and parameters.
Inside, the minimalist dashboard draws the attention to ultra-wide BMW Curved Display, which groups together the slim, non-reflective glass, high-resolution 12.3-inch information display and 14.9-inch control display. All the menus and graphics have been redesigned for quick access and ease of use. And while that giant panel is slightly angled towards the driver, the front passenger still retains a full view of the displays and can operate the system by touch control with ease, BMW claims.
The BMW Head-Up Display now features optimized graphics and additional design content to enhance the information provided to the driver. The company wants you to spend more time looking straight ahead at the road, thus reducing distractions.
Speaking of which, despite the large centre touchscreen, redesigned iDrive controller and couple of physical buttons that remain, BMW explains that iDrive 8 prioritizes voice and gesture control as part of a natural dialogue between users and its Intelligent Personal Assistant. The system is constantly processing large amounts of not only self-generated data, but also data collected from the BMW Group vehicle fleet to implement the driver’s wishes in a context-related way.
With the new “BMW ID” function, artificial intelligence is used to learn the habits and preferences of occupants and then make suggestions or even activate certain features automatically. A new digital key and new My BMW App are also part of the personalized experience.
Similar to a growing number of automakers, BMW’s Remote Software Upgrade allows the new iDrive 8 to benefit from regular over-the-air improvements, integrate additional functions and stay up to date. Moreover, the system has been prepared for making optimum use of the data speeds offered by 5G.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg, mind you. We’ll have more to share about iDrive 8 in the coming months and particularly after the BMW iX arrives in Canada sometime next year.