BMW is preparing a new generation of its iDrive system. During CES it will reveal all the details about this. The brand new BMW iX has the scoop.
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system has been around for 20 years this year and is entering the next generation. The brand shows this during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which takes place online this week. We have already seen it in the iX for a while, but now BMW is also announcing more about new functionalities of iDrive.
To begin with, it all looks slightly different than before. In the iX, one panel on two screens provides space for the system. That works both in the digital instruments and on the 14.9-inch infotainment screen. All in all, it looks a bit tidier, but at the same time it must be able to show more information at the same time via different windows operating side by side. Another visual aspect that should make it a bit more attractive is the well-known iDrive dial. It is now made of glass, at least in the iX.
As we often see, customizing the car via the infotainment system is more important than ever. Via personal profiles you can call up all matters relevant to the user at once. Artificial intelligence and information from ‘the cloud’ will also play a greater role. iDrive will do more with information from other cars and based on this, for example, make route adjustments, predict whether there are enough parking spaces at the destination and pass on warnings from other BMWs to the driver.
Since 2001
BMW of course also likes to reflect on the anniversary. After all, it is 20 years ago that iDrive was introduced. Then the BMW 7 series (E65) had the scoop. At the time, you could set all kinds of things in one screen, such as climate control, seat heating, telephone settings and general car settings. Initially, this could only be operated with the round iDrive button, but later more buttons were added to increase the ease of use. At first, not everyone was satisfied with the user-friendliness, even though it was a great novelty at the time.