BMW’s New iDrive Ditches Traditional Controller And Instruments In Favor Of Minimalism And Projections

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BMW’s latest unveiling, the Vision Neue Klasse, previews the future of the company’s design and EV architecture. But underneath the skin of the concept — which will morph into a production-ready vehicle by the end of 2025 — lies an arguably more significant part of their future lineup. And, just as the Vision Neue Klasse is being described as a reinvention of the brand, so too is the latest iDrive.

Anyone familiar with the brand knows the pivotal role the iDrive system plays in BMW interiors. The latest iteration, as seen in 2021, has been praised for its improved graphics, additional features, and enhanced smarts. Will the rebooted tech manage to win you over?

Goodbye Gauges, Hello Panoramic Vision

The iDrive in the Neue Klasse revolves around four pivotal elements. At the forefront of this transformation is BMW Panoramic Vision. It capitalizes on advanced head-up display technology, plastering information across the entire windscreen and positioning it at an optimal height for the driver.

Related: Physical Buttons Much Easier To Use Than Infotainment Screens, Study Finds

Just the lower portion of the screen is covered, with the feature essentially relegating meter clusters to history. In the concept, we can see the screen project information such as vehicle speed, state of charge, and range. Towards the center, we see information on the current media that’s being played. In the far right, in front of the passenger, a computer desktop-like readout of the date and time is seen.

For “active driving” situations, a 3D Head-Up Display jumps is also provided, showcasing 3D animations for turn-by-turn navigation.

The iDrive Controller Is Dead. Long Live The iDrive Controller

While the expansive display tech is sure to snag headlines, it’s the control mechanism that’s likely to be the real game-changer, for better or for worse. It would appear that the traditional iDrive controller has finally met its maker. The iDrive controller has been an indefatigable savior of frustration for many (if you gloss over the early iterations of the 2000s). It enabled easy navigation of menus without the driver having to look down at a set of buttons or reach out to interact with a fiddly touch screen.

Instead, a revamped multifunction steering wheel houses the only buttons mentioned — even the climate controls have been struck from the record. Adhering to the “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” principle, it’s said to offer the user tactile haptic feedback with “multilayer technology.” Additionally, further control will be handed over to advanced voice recognition.

The new central display of the Neue Klasse houses the main functions of iDrive. The screen itself features a new matrix backlight technology that guarantees vibrant, high-resolution displays that can perform in varying light conditions. Those already acquainted with iDrive 8’s QuickSelect can rest easy knowing it’s staying put with the addition of a next-generation integrated software architecture.

See Also: BMW Unveils iDrive 8 System That Gains New Features, Improved Graphics And Better Smarts

BMW’s objective with the revamped iDrive system is evident: they envision the Neue Klasse vehicles as expansive digital interfaces, in line with the effort to reinvent the brand’s offerings. The integration with the BMW Cloud and the user’s digital ecosystem suggests an aspiration for a deeper level of human-car connectivity, while the focus on a minimalistic interior is typical of what brands like Tesla have successfully marketed.

But is this really the kind of direction you want BMW to take with its in-car infotainment and interior design? Does the lack of physical buttons and traditional gauges irritate you? Or do you appreciate BMW’s commitment to minimalism while pushing the boundaries with in-car tech? As always, let us know in the comments below.