Ultimate companion – through real and virtual worlds
BMW i Vision Dee (01/23)
05.01.2023 Design, Concepts, Studies
BMW i Vision Dee – Collage (01/23)
Steven Woerns
Munich/Las Vegas. The BMW Group is sharing its vision of the future digital experience. That’s both inside and outside the vehicle. All at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 in Las Vegas. For the BMW i Vision Dee is the futuristic mid-size sedan. Combined with a new and pared-down design. The name “Dee” stands for Digital Emotional Experience. Because that is precisely its aim. I mean to create an even stronger bond with the driver. That is the future going forward. Especially to go beyond. Beyond the levels of voice control and driver assistance systems. You know, the things you and I use and are familiar with today.
For now, the BMW Head-Up-Display extends across the full width of the windscreen. Thereby providing a glimpse of the next vehicle generation. From 2025 onwards, this innovation will be available. Especiallyin the models of the NEUE KLASSE. In addition, the BMW Group also has a refined use of color-change technology.
Having unveiled the BMW iX Flow Featuring E Ink.
Originally and with the ability to change from black to white; at the last CES. Now the BMW i Vision Dee can now curate its exterior. Can you say in up to 32 colors?
With its intelligent, almost human capabilities. Now BMW i Vision Dee accompanies drivers. I mean not only through real-life situations on the roads. However and also in their digital environment.
BMW Mixed Reality Slider: into the virtual world in five steps
Most interestingly is the BMW Mixed Reality Slider. For it’s in combination with the advanced Head-up Display. I mean it is the digital highlight and central operating control of BMW i Vision Dee. Using hi-tech sensors on the instrument panel. Then drivers can decide for themselves how much digital content they want to see. All on the advanced Head-Up Display. As well. the five-step selection ranges from analogue to driving-related information. Then to the contents of the communications system. Finally to augmented-reality projection. Then in parallel, dimmable windows. Those can also be used to gradually fade out reality. Then mixed reality can be experienced in an immersive way. So it’s creating a new dimension of driving pleasure. All for the user.
Advanced BMW Head-Up-Display: in NEUE KLASSE from 2025
In the BMW i Vision Dee, projection across the entire width of the windscreen. For it is now a must. For it allows information to be displayed. This is on the largest possible surface. All which only becomes recognizable as a display once it is activated. In this way, the BMW Group demonstrates the huge potential. Most importantly of projection technology. Also, the BMW i Vision Dee visualizes how an advanced Head-Up-Display could also be utilized.
For the standard-production version of the BMW Head-up-Display is extending across the full width of the windscreen. This will be also used in the models. That’s of the NEUE KLASSE from 2025 onwards.
Welcome scenario with voice and phygital icons
The digital experience already begins outside the vehicle. That’s with a personalized welcome scenario that combines graphical elements. Also light and sound effects. Natural language serves as the simplest, most intuitive form of interaction. Thereby enabling perfect understanding between humans and their vehicles. The headlights and the closed BMW kidney grille also form a common phygital (fusion of physical and digital) icon. All on a uniform surface. Thereby allowing the vehicle to produce different facial expressions. This means BMW i Vision Dee can talk to people. Moreover and at the same time, express moods. I mean such as joy. Also astonishment or approval visually. In addition, BMW i Vision Dee can also project an image of the driver’s avatar onto the side window. All to further personalize the welcome scenario.
World premiere for full-color E Ink technology
Following the spectacular debut of the BMW iX Flow Featuring E Ink at CES 2022, the BMW Group is now unveiling a full-color version of the E Ink technology in BMW i Vision Dee that will be used as the outer skin of the vehicle for the first time worldwide.
BMW i Vision Dee, rather than simply alternating between black and white. Because now it showcases a multi-colored, fully variable and individually configurable exterior. An ePaper film from the BMW Group’s cooperation partner, E Ink. Then it is applied to the body to create this magical display of color. Up to 32 colors can be displayed.
The body surface of the BMW i Vision Dee is divided into 240 E Ink segments. So each of which is controlled individually. This allows an almost infinite variety of patterns to be generated. As well as varied within seconds. The laser cutting process used to trim the films and the electronic control design. All were developed in partnership with E Ink. For the adaptation of this technology for curved surfaces. Then the programming of the animations. They were developed by BMW Group’s in-house engineers. Thereby enabling a form of unique customization. All throughout the automotive sector worldwide.
Reductive design – inside and out
The design of BMW i Vision Dee has been deliberately pared down. Especially to focus attention on the digital experience. Also the DNA of the BMW brand. The exterior is defined by the classic three-box sedan design that forms the core of the BMW brand.
Inside, digitalization goes hand in hand with reductive use of materials. Thereby operating controls and displays. All to ensure nothing distracts from the digital experience. Especially the new feeling of enhanced driving pleasure. In addition, the unconventional design of the steering wheel. All with its central vertical spoke. For it creates touchpoints. Those that come to life when approached or touched. Moreover those that can be operated by moving the thumb. These phygital touchpoints control selection of the content projected. All onto the windscreen and, together with the Head-Up Display. This supports the principle of “hands on the wheel, eyes on the road”.
Another milestone on the road to the NEUE KLASSE
The future of the BMW Group is electric. Also circular and digital. So, BMW i Vision Dee represents the digital aspect of this trio. Also it will be another milestone on the road to the next vehicle generation. I mean the NEUE KLASSE is their way. For the BMW Group will also provide further insights and glimpses of the revolutionary vehicle concept. All of the NEUE KLASSE over the course of 2023.
Source: BMW
