BMW’s New iDrive | Traditional Controller & Instruments Out Minimalism & Projections In

The Vision Neue Klasse, BMW’s most recent vehicle debut, provides a glimpse at the company’s future design and EV architecture. But an even more important component of their range is concealed beneath the idea, which will develop into a production-ready vehicle by the end of 2025. And the newest iDrive is being compared to the Vision Neue Klasse in terms of brand revitalization.

The iDrive system is crucial to the operation of BMW interiors, as anybody who is familiar with the brand is aware. The most recent version, which debuted in 2021, has received plaudits for its better aesthetics, new features, and increased intelligence.

Fascinating Panoramic Vision

In the Neue Klasse, there are four key components that make up the iDrive. BMW Panoramic Vision is at the fore of this shift. Utilizing cutting-edge head-up display technology, it spreads information across the whole windscreen and places it at the driver’s ideal viewing height.

The feature practically consigns meter clusters to the past because it only covers the lowest third of the screen. In the design, the screen seems to display data on the speed, charge level, and range of the vehicle. We can view details about the currently playing media in the middle. A computer-desktop-like readout showing the date and time can be seen on the far right, in front of the passenger.

A 3D Head-Up Display is also available for “active driving” conditions, displaying 3D animations for turn-by-turn navigation.

Related Article: BMW Vision Neue Klasse Concept | Monolithic Design

The iDrive Controller

For many people, the iDrive controller has been an enduring pain reliever. It allowed for simple menu navigation without requiring the driver to reach out and engage with a tricky touch screen or glance down at a row of buttons.

The only buttons indicated are now located on a redesigned multifunction steering wheel; even the climate settings have been omitted from the list. In accordance with the “eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” maxim, it is said to provide the user with tactile haptic input via “multilayer technology.” Furthermore, more power will be given to cutting-edge voice recognition.

BMW’s goal with the updated iDrive system is clear: as part of the attempt to reimagine the brand’s products, they view the Neue Klasse cars as vast digital interfaces. A greater degree of human-car communication is implied by the integration with the BMW Cloud and the user’s digital environment, while the emphasis on a minimalist interior is characteristic of what successful companies like Tesla have advertised.