BMW Introduces Eighth-generation iDrive Infotainment Technology
BMW has officially released details of the all-new iDrive technology and the eighth-generation operating system gets a wide range of exciting features.
BMW first teased its Operating System 8 during the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. The system comprised of a gorgeous dual-screen curved display and an all-new iDrive knob. The Bavarian automaker refrained from divulging specifications of the infotainment software, but now, the Bavarian car manufacturer has officially released details of the new system.
The company has confirmed that it will eventually introduce the eight-generation BMW iDrive software across its entire product range. The iDrive 8 technology will make its debut in the BMW iX later in the year. The German car manufacturer’s first-ever performance EV- the upcoming BMW i4– will be the second model to receive the company’s latest iDrive technology.
Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, Frank Weber, shared his thoughts on the upcoming EV, “The BMW iX will lead the way digitally. The new digital platform we are rolling out across all our models impresses with its handful of high-performance computers, 5G, Gigabit Ethernet, and regular over-the-air upgrades.
He further added, “The new BMW Operating System 8 is the most powerful technology stack we have yet developed. It processes twice the number of information signals and twenty times more data volume than before. Using the connection to the BMW Cloud, we are bringing the most intelligent fleet of vehicles in the automotive industry onto the road.”
The curved display is responsible for all touch operations, but the company has designed the new system with a strong focus on dialogue-based interactions. The all-new BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant bridges the communication between the user and the operating system. The new iDrive 8 technology also comes with BMW ID, which allows owners to personalize their driving experience.
The company has also announced that it will soon launch the app in the US, which will allow the customers to personalize their Driver IDs. Like the Tesla APP, the new app will allow the vehicle to recognize the driver by connecting to his/her smartphone, and it will then proceed to re-configure the vehicle according to the driver’s pre-programmed preferences.
This includes pre-setting the car’s climate control and media settings. The company also offers its iDrive 8 technology with features like 5G connectivity, third-party apps compatibility, over-the-air update capability, and much more.
Weber also shared his thoughts on the new iDrive technology, “The new BMW iDrive creates a personalized connection between human and vehicle. It’s totally intuitive operation via intelligent voice control, the touch[1]controlled Curved Display and the Head-Up Display makes it the industry’s most user-friendly and secure operating system.”