Although BMW’s latest infotainment system still looks new, a replacement is already coming. We first took a look at iDrive Cars got rid of the traditional instrument cluster. Instead, the electric sedan and crossover share a dashboard-level head-up display (HUD). The HUD is located at the base of the windshield, extending from one A-pillar to the other.
BMW called it “Panoramic View”, but the production version was renamed “Panoramic iDrive”. It comes with the tenth generation of the company’s infotainment system. The revamped technology package is shown in a teaser video shared on social media ahead of its world premiere at CES next week. The clip gives us a glimpse of the extended HUD.
Logic tells us that the most relevant information will continue to be displayed in the driver’s field of vision. The left side of the panoramic iDrive system will likely replace the instrument cluster found in current BMWs with iDrive 8.5 and iDrive 9. Instead of a touchscreen to the right of the driver display, there will be a separate screen in the center of the dashboard. Judging by the Neue Klasse concepts, it could have a larger diagonal than the 14.9 inches found in current vehicles.
Don’t look for the iDrive controller because BMW is getting rid of it. Yes, future production models will avoid the actual dial. This isn’t too surprising, since the rotary knob has already disappeared from many small cars. We’re talking about the 1 Series, X1, 2 Series Gran Coupe, 2 Series Active Tourer, and X2.
Although the second-generation iX3 will offer Panoramic View when it arrives later this year, BMW will roll out the technology across the lineup. It has already been announced that the new goodies planned for electric vehicles in the Neue Klasse will migrate to cars with combustion engines. This should include not only CLAR-based models, but also inexpensive front-wheel drive vehicles.
We’ll get a taste of BMW’s future interiors next week at CES. CES kicks off on January 7 in Las Vegas.