BMW Reveals Their Eighth-Generation iDrive Infotainment System

Vertu logo
VertuVertu Motors PLC
Interior dashboard view of a BMW car featuring the all-new BMW iDrive system with a digital instrument cluster showing speed at 98 and a wide touchscreen display offering switch mode options including Personal, Sport, and Efficient. The image highlights advanced technology suitable for both used cars and new cars buyers.
Interior dashboard view of a BMW car featuring the all-new BMW iDrive system with a digital instrument cluster showing speed at 98 and a wide touchscreen display offering switch mode options including Personal, Sport, and Efficient. The image highlights advanced technology suitable for both used cars and new cars buyers.

This week has seen BMW announce the details of their latest infotainment system - set to be installed in the majority of the brand s future vehicles.

Discover some of the key features that make this latest BMW technology special:

Design

BMW s iDrive 8 will be showcased across two displays; a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch central touchscreen make it easy to access, view and control the features of your vehicle.

The dual displays are seamlessly connected on top of the dashboard, giving the impression that its one large screen housing everything you will need.

Encompassing both instrumentation and driver information, iDrive 8 is completely hosted within the central control unit.

Interior view of a BMW car showcasing the BMW iDrive Design with a focus on the curved display driver-oriented cockpit, featuring customisable and responsive screens. The dashboard highlights crafted clarity with sculptural control elements and clever simplicity emphasising less switches but not switchless. The image demonstrates experience clarity and perfection, suitable for promoting used cars and new cars.

At Your Assistance 

The all-new iDrive 8 system harbours an updated version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. This means that the BMW cars to come will be more personalised than ever before.

Users can now even give the voice-assistant software a name of their choice, whilst the system also makes use of visual prompts on the information displays when handling tasks.

All Intelligent Personal Assistant settings can be saved to a BMW ID profile, which has been expanded with deeper personalisation and functionality.

BMW iDrive Intelligent Personal Assistant dashboard interface in a BMW car featuring a steering wheel with the BMW logo. Highlights include Humanizing Technology, Natural Interaction, Individual Wake-up Word, and Car Expert characteristics, promoting a new kind of driver-vehicle relationship. The image relates to both used cars and new cars with advanced technology.

Where To?

With iDrive 8, the navigation system has been enhanced to be completely intuitive and responsive.

BMW s sat navs will no longer be a passive system; the iDrive 8 will make suggestions on where to go based on what it s learnt from your driving routine.

BMW have commented that this can very beneficial when embarking on your daily commute... Although you may know the route off-by-heart, with every corner and roundabout memorised, a new BMW with iDrive 8 will look out for the day s traffic and warn you of any disruptions or delays.

If needed, the navigation system will automatically prepare the best alternative route.

Interior view of a BMW car showcasing the iDrive Driver Orientation system with a focus on digital displays including an information display for driver orientation, a head-up display with driving instructions, and a control display providing information overview. The dashboard features a navigation map and various controls, illuminated in a modern, high-tech setting. Text highlights key functions: Locate for driver orientation, Act for driving instructions, and Inform for information overview. The image includes the BMW logo and the slogan 'BMW iDrive Driver Orientation. Empowers to become the ultimate driver.' Suitable for used cars and new cars enthusiasts seeking advanced vehicle technology.

Ready And Waiting

BMW vehicles with iDrive 8 offer a new welcome/start-up programme, using ultra-wideband radio technology.

Your BMW will be able to sense when you re approaching it, by communicating with your key or smartphone.

As soon as you re within three metres, it will wake up with soft exterior and interior lighting patterns. The door handles and boot handle will illuminate. Then, when the door is opened, the iDrive system will fully start automatically.

BMW iDrive Great Entrance Moments infographic showing the sequence of a person approaching a BMW car, starting from 3 meters where lighting orchestration starts, at 1.5 meters the vehicle unlocks automatically via car key or smartphone, then opening the door triggers surface heating and welcome animation, followed by entering where the vehicle adjusts to personal settings, guiding the driver into the vehicle and preparing everything for the ride. The image features a silhouette of a person walking towards a modern BMW car with headlights on against a blue and purple gradient background, highlighting advanced technology in new cars and used cars.

The all-new iDrive 8 system will be seen first within BMW s upcoming iX and i4 all-electric vehicles. 

If you d like to learn more about the all-new BMW i4, click the link below:

Learn More About The BMW i4

Equally, if you d like to find out more about hybrid and electric vehicles, click the link below:

Learn More About Electric Vehicles