Note: This article was first published on 10 January 2025.
A render of what BMW's new Panoramic iDrive might look like in a production vehicle. Photo: BMW
BMW announced its next-generation infotainment system at CES 2025 and it’s called Panoramic iDrive.
It’s a mix of the futuristic and the radical. Gone is the traditional instrument cluster, and in its place is “BMW Panoramic Vision”, a long display at the bottom of the windscreen that runs from one A-pillar to the other. Together with a more traditional HUD (heads-up display), BMW says this new design helps drivers keep their eyes on the road better.
Folks worry about replacement costs should breathe easy because BMW says this isn’t a speciality windscreen and that it won’t cost extra to replace if it gets damaged by, say, a stone chip.
The Panoramic Vision will display information like speed, driving assistance information, road sign information, and navigation. It will be customisable too, so drivers will be able to set up the display to show the information that they want most.
Rounding off BMW’s new interior design is the Central Display and multi-function steering wheel with haptic feedback. Like the Panoramic Vision, the Central Display will be customisable, allowing users to place the functions and apps that they use more frequently on the main screen.
Underpinning the entire system is a new OS called BMW Operating System X. It’s based on the Android Open Source Project software stack and is supposedly developed entirely in-house by BMW.
The new Panoramic Vision display and HUD combine to help keep drivers' eyes on the road. Photo: BMW
This new iDrive system will debut later this year on a yet-to-be-named SUV that BMW is building on their new Neue Klasse platform. It will then be featured on every new BMW in the future, irrespective of their drivetrain – which means both electric and ICE-powered models will get this new iDrive system.
Overall, it’s a bold move by the brand considering that one of the most iconic things about a BMW cabin is an instrument cluster with two clock faces for your rev counter and speed. But as the famous Bob Dylan song goes, the times they are a-changin’, and BMW cannot afford to look outdated as other brands continue to redesign and reinvent their cabins and infotainment systems. Only time and customer feedback will tell if BMW made the right decision.
Source: BMW
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