BMW introduced its I Vision Dynamics electric concept vehicle, calling it the “next level of human-machine interaction,” according to the German automaker. This car foreshadows the high-tech future for the BMW 3 Series.
The four-door sedan concept is based on BMW’s Neue Klasse platform, which will enable a wide range of future BMW vehicles powered by internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and electric powertrains. This platform will enter production in 2025 to replace the recently released BMW i3 electric sedan in the Chinese market.
Among the new digital features on the I Vision Dee is a head-up display that projected information across the full windscreen. According to BMW, this will be included in vehicles based on the Neue Klasse platform that will be delivered in the mid-decade.
The concept’s moniker, which stands for Digital Emotional Experience, hints at the new exterior design language that BMW intends to utilise on future production models.
The outward design is similar to the BMW Circular concept car displayed at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, with a redesigned enclosed front with digital panels replacing the conventional kidney grille. LED headlights serve as “phygital” (physical-digital) icons on these panels.
The headlights change shape and size depending on the task at hand, and they show a visual greeting as the vehicle arrives or departs. According to BMW, this gives the concept its own distinct face expressions. The I Vision Dee’s bonnet has a deeper centre scallop, and the sides are smooth with no feature lines.
In contrast to current production BMWs, which have a higher side window line, the new concept has a lower one. Full-color avatars of the driver, personalised welcome messages, and digital symbols can also be displayed on the windscreen, taking full advantage of the extra space.
The proposal also includes an e-ink overlay that enables for the incorporation of various patterns and phygital iconography into various portions of the exterior. The C-pillar is one of these sections, and it has a digital replica of BMW’s traditional Hofmeister kink design element. At the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, this capability was initially demonstrated with the color-changing iX concept.
The I Vision Dee’s front design is mirrored in the rear, with two new light panels divided in the centre and placed into a high-set trunk lid. The concept’s low hood, long wheelbase, and lack of overhangs imply somewhat changed three-box proportions for future BMW sedans.
The I Vision Dee is also a demonstration of BMW’s future operating system, which will power the brand’s next generation of automobiles. BMW intends to discontinue the central infotainment display, which has been standard in its vehicles since the fourth-generation BMW 7 Series debuted in 2001. Instead, the new head-up display will be the system’s main point.
BMW wants to give drivers complete control over the amount of information and distractions they are exposed to while driving. Drivers can modify the amount of content displayed on the windscreen using a feature called “Mixed Reality Slider,” according to the manufacturer.
The I Vision Dee is the second of three concept vehicles developed by BMW to exhibit products based on the Neue Klasse platform. The first, the I Vision Circular, was concerned with the utilisation of recycled materials in construction. A third concept car, focusing on battery and drivetrain innovations, is anticipated to be presented later this year.
The I Vision Dee’s drivetrain has not been revealed, but BMW has announced that it is developing innovative cylindrical battery technology that will greatly boost the driving range and charging speeds of its Neue Klasse EVs.
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