With technology in automobiles getting more advanced everyday, BMW has launced its mosted advanced infotainment to dated in which they plan on releasing this summer in their 2013 7 series. Â Word is BMW might add Google into the infotainment which already has me sold with that option
BMW has released details on its refreshed 2013 7 Series flagship before it goes on sale late this summer. But while the new drivetrains, mildly updated exterior and reworked interior are nice, what’s more impressive is the latest iteration of BMW iDrive. And we’ve got an exclusive hands-on with the system.
While the hardware underneath has gotten a mild spec bump, the central display and its resolution remains unchanged. According to BMW tech boffin, Rob Passaro, “This is more of a performance update and reskinning, with additional features. Think of it as iDrive 4.X.â€
Current BMW owners will notice the enhanced graphic capabilities, particularly when scrolling through menus, zooming in and out of the maps, and the quick rendering of traffic, point-of-interest data and a new set of sub-menus available throughout the system.
The spit and polish BMW applied is particularly evident with the laser-like animation as you scroll through selections and the more responsive control through the central iDrive knob. Passaro points out that the smooth transitions are “where you get that perception of quality†and after playing with the system, it feels notably more luxurious — as much as a navigation system can.
The standard split screen setup is still present, but there’s a new set of online widgets that display local weather and a three-day forecast, along with new Panoramio integration that sources images of your destination or current location. More useful is the Street View implementation that allows you to see exactly what destination you’re navigating to, complete with Google-sourced images that can be panned and zoomed.
3-D buildings are also included in the update and range from simple gray slabs to more detailed graphics of major buildings and landmarks — particularly useful for getting your bearings in an unfamiliar city.
The integrated user manual also gets an update, complete with short animated videos that take a high-level view of the various functions, and for new 7 Series buyers its yet another reason to avoid cracking the owner’s manual.
Prospective owners will also be happy to note that you can now pair two mobile phones simultaneously, including full address-book implementations, whereas before, only one phone could be used as the primary device. And thankfully, BMW has finally nixed the “CD†button flanking the iDrive controller, opting to replace it with a button labeled “Media†— far more appropriate for a modern vehicle.
Finally, BMW will begin offering a fully digital instrument panel in place of the traditional gauges you’d find behind the steering wheel. The new display provides the standard engine, speed, fuel and temperature gauges, but now includes the ability to scroll through media functions and display current call information. Additionally, if you toggle between the different driving modes (Sport, Sport +, Comfort and Eco Pro), the gauge color and information changes to suit the driving behavior. It’s all very cool, but U.S. consumers won’t get a crack at the new display until next year.
[wired]
