New BMW iDrive 8 infotainment system
BMW revealed the iDrive 8 infotainment system last month which will gradually make its way into the newer BMW models. The company’s goal was to offer a better user experience and move the relationship between the driver and the car into the digital space. One of the best features yet is that, even though it replaces many physical controls, it will keep the rotary controller.
The features of the new BMW iDrive 8.
The iDrive 8 system will change the interior layout quite a bit, moving away from two separate screen panels to one long screen. Behind the wheel is a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel that seamlessly connects to a 14.9-inch touchscreen (exact sizes may not be standard across every BMW model).
Many features have been moved over from physical buttons to the digital screen, but BMW has not said goodbye to physical controls. The much enjoyed rotary controller mounted on the centre-console remains.
The company has put a lot of effort into improving the dialogue-based interaction and natural voice recognition for the iDrive 8 system. It will feature the BMW Intelligent Assistant that can even be given a name. So no more “Hello BMW,” you can now say “Hello KITT” (or any other name). Something we foresee a lot of when iDrive 8 rolls out.
This AI can also visualise itself on the displays and recognise when the driver or passenger are talking to it. This will allow for much more control over the vehicle functions that it manages, like the HVAC system.
BMW has also given two features to increase personalisation through iDrive 8. They are BMW ID and My Modes. BMW ID will allow the driver to create a profile and save various settings, replacing BMW Connected Drive. With coming updates, BMW hopes to make it so that you can transfer your settings between different cars.
My Modes is a feature that will replace Driving Experience Control. It will allow up to 10 customizable settings that will change the ambient lighting, design of the dashboard displays and also drive-mode characteristics to perfectly suit the driver.
This new system will first launch of the IX and i4 models and then roll out to the rest of the BMW range. There is very good news for your mobile connectivity in that it will be compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto. It will also be compatible with 5G technology and allow for third-party apps.
Source: BMW Group
