Previewing BMW’s Next-Gen In-Car Operating System

Incredible Voice Command But Buttons And Touch Screens Stick Around: BMW’s Next-Gen In-Car Operating System

Yes, BMW's newest screen angles match the M logo's slashes at 72.5°. But that quirky little rhomboid does more than just give you an easter egg. It's meant to make the screen easier for you to use without taking your hands off of the wheel.

This is part of the complete redesign for BMW Operating System X that launched BMW's Panoramic iDrive system—an in-car system that will allow more voice control operation than any other system on the market.

BMW says that its new OS, which has been confirmed in all Neue Klasse models, is made up of four elements. The Panoramic Vision system, steering wheel, center screen, and a head-up display. Panoramic Vision, a cross-car screen, is the highlight.

Instead of a giant screen or set of screens, like in the new Lincoln Nautilus, BMW uses a projector to send content across the base of the entire windscreen. It's just a few inches of real estate at the bottom, but it has room for massive amounts of information – or very little, thanks to customization.

The left side of the Panoramic Vision screen is the dashboard. It has speed and other critical warnings. That let BMW move the center screen closer to the driver, so while you can do more things without it, it's also easier to use. The angle brings it as close to the wheel as possible, letting the driver control key features without taking their hand off of the wheel.

BMW's new steering wheel uses shy-tech. Where the buttons you want light up to show that they're ready to go. But the buttons have definition, so you can feel where they are. Last is the conventional head-up display, but it will add 3D navigation and augmented reality. Drawing arrows and lines on the road to give you direction.

BMW Operating System X (don't call it OS X or you'll summon Apple's legal team) makes it all work. It doesn't look much different than the last version, but that's on purpose. BMW owners liked the menus as they were. So the company changed everything else.

It will allow more voice controls than ever before. Nav, audio, and the like are old hat. The new “Hey, BMW” assistant can control climate and audio, but also seat and window adjustments. VP of UX design Christian Bauer told AutoGuide that anything in the car that can be controlled by a button is fair game, though not all will be available from day one.

With that power, BMW dropped the iDrive controller. Though it dropped the control and added voice commands, there will be buttons. Four window switches, a gear selector, and a mirror adjustment, to start. BMW is adding capability but it isn't taking away what you can do now.

Cleverly, if strangely, much of the testing is done in the office instead of on-road, in a virtual reality sim. Drivers in a real seat with a real wheel operate the system using gloves and VR goggles to make sure everything works before putting it on the pavement.

Operating System X will debut on the electric BMW iX3, the first Neue Klasse model, which is expected to go on sale late this year.

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