BMW Makes 'Big Conceptual Change' In Upcoming Cars, SUVs – Newsweek

BMW plans to zig where other automakers have zagged when it comes to in-car infotainment. Large rectangular screens dominate the latest generation of premium and luxury cars. Future BMWs won’t have that.

The German automaker showed off its vision for the future, Panoramic iDrive projected image display at CES, a consumer electronics trade show, in January. It shows information at the bottom of windshield glass rather than on screens. No other automaker has taken this tack.

“The real reason why we decided [to go in this direction], and this is a big conceptual change that we are making, was because we were looking at competitors that were doing bigger and bigger displays, and then we asked ourselves, ‘Do we like that or what?’,” Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Development told Newsweek.

The Mercedes-Benz Hyperscreen spans 56 inches across much of the dashboard of its most premium models. The Cadillac Escalade IQ has a 55-inch curved display.

BMW is reconsidering cabin functionality and technology as part of its new generation of models, dubbed “Neue Klasse” models, which translates to “new class” in English. Neue Klasse vehicles, cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), will be new from the ground up and push forward exterior and interior design, and feature cutting-edge technology.

BMW questioned if they wanted to go even bigger than the competition for the Neue Klasse models. “Then we said, ‘No, we don’t.’,” Weber commented. The company believes that the large screens disconnect drivers from the road.

That said, BMW is not moving away from touchscreen displays completely explaining that big screens are the problem because you can “never get them into the perfect touch condition… because they are working over the full width,” Weber said. Not having accurate touch functionality can be distracting to a driver.

In combination with Panoramic iDrive, future BMWs will have an adequately sized central screen that has been moved closer in relation to the steering wheel than what you’ll find in today’s BMWs. In its concept display at CES, that screen was shaped like a rhombus, which is also a departure from the auto world’s norm.

The automaker has long been known for making vehicles with impressive handling characteristics that entice drivers to push the limits of their skills behind the wheel. “BMW has built its reputation on providing unparalleled driver engagement and handling. Its dedication to precision, dynamic performance, and the art of driving itself have defined the brand for generations,” Paul Waatti, director of industry analysis at AutoPacific told Newsweek.

BMW intends to uphold its reputation in Neue Klasse vehicles. “BMW is connecting you to the steering wheel, and the steering wheel connected to the vehicle, and the vehicle connected to the road. And this is this kind of thing you expect from a BMW to do,” Weber said.

“Neue Klasse represents a bold step forward in BMW’s evolution, positioning the company at the forefront of the future automotive landscape. With a focus on sustainable innovation, cutting-edge technology, evolved user experience, and electrification, Neue Klasse is set to redefine what it means to drive and interact with a BMW in the coming era,” Waatti said.