BMW reveals System X OS-powered Panoramic iDrive

MANILA: BMW revealed its first Panoramic iDrive, powered by the company’s System X operating system (OS).

According to the German car manufacturer, the new BMW iDrive will debut in the marque’s Neue Klasse vehicles later this year. The latest iteration of its in-car communications and entertainment system strongly focuses on driver orientation and personalization.

“BMW iDrive denotes the complete display and operating experience, from infotainment software to displays and beyond. Originally launched in 2001, BMW iDrive has repeatedly set industry standards in terms of intuitive usability,” BMW wrote in a press release.

Key components

Per the Munich-headquartered automotive brand, the new BMW iDrive has four key components: the Panoramic Vision, the central display, the new multifunctional steering wheel, and the new, optional three-dimensional head-up display.

Revolutionizing the way information from the instrument cluster is fed to the driver, the BMW Panoramic Vision projects information across the entire width of the windscreen.

Just right below is the central display, which is essentially the infotainment system. It boasts a “free-cut” design and is positioned ergonomically right next to the steering wheel. It also gets its unique color and luminosity from the matrix backlight technology.

On the other hand, the three-dimensional head-up display projects the navigation and assisted driving displays straight into the driver’s field of vision.

Finally, the new multifunctional steering wheel not only looks futuristic but now has haptic functions.

Improved personalization

The new BMW Panoramic iDrive offers improved personalization allowing drivers to define their preferred driving characteristics such as drive system and steering settings.

Owners can also load personal photos and adjust the color selection of the ambient light and central display to taste.

The overall experience is further enhanced by the company’s new “HypersonX” sound experience, which was developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio. It is comprised of 43 sound signals as well as special driving sounds that adapt the sounds exactly to the driving situation, enabling emotional interaction between the driver and their BMW.

System X OS

The BMW System X OS is the software underpinning the display and operating concept of the BMW Panoramic iDrive. It enables precise and cleverly coordinated control of the interaction elements, giving the driver the right information at the right time, and in the right place.

According to BMW, the System X OS (while being based on the Android Open Source Project software stack) was developed 100 percent in-house.

Third-party content — BMW noted — remains fully and seamlessly integrated and will continue to open up a wide range of streaming, gaming, and infotainment offerings in the future.

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