The rising importance of technological breakthroughs in the automotive industry is undeniable, with every one of the big makes doubling down on its tech offerings in a variety of different areas. BMW is no different, and early next year, it’ll head to CES with a simulated experience of things to come in its latest self-driving EV concept.
The Next Big Thing?
For those of you who may be unaware, the Consumer Electronic’s Show in Las Vegas is arguably the biggest technology convention of the year, with the 2019 rendition slated to kick off January 8th.
Beyond the smartphones and smart home systems, the latest and greatest automotive technology will also be on display, and BMW is looking to showcase its developments in “design, automated driving, connectivity, electrification, and services” as the framework for its corporate strategy going forward.
As such, BMW’s booth will feature a “sophisticated mixed-reality installation” that recreates the experience of actually riding in the BMW Vision iNext concept.
As a reminder, the iNext offers both autonomous and manual drive modes, and it uses electric power to get from A to B. It’s also stuffed with the latest development of BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant.
For those CES attendees looking to experience the iNext firsthand, the simulation begins with the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant suggesting a daily agenda, after which the AI plans a trip according to your wishes.
While the robots handle the driving, the Personal Assistant will make suggestions for the passenger, setting up things like shopping, smart home functions, and videoconferencing for work.
The interior itself is designed to be comfortable, regardless if you’re driving or the car is driving itself. And because it’s fully autonomous, BMW made sure to provide ample opportunities to use the downtime effectively, whether for entertainment or productivity. As such, the iNext is decked out with open spaces, lots of soft touch materials, and copious display touchscreens.
BMW will also showcase something it’s calling “Shy Tech” at CES, or rather, technology that is discretely integrated with the vehicle, but only becomes visible when it’s required.
Finally, BMW says it’ll round out its CES experience with a self-riding R 1200 GS motorcycle and an off-road experience in the X7 SUV.
It sounds pretty interesting, and we’re sure BMW won’t be the only automaker on hand to show its wares. Indeed, as tech becomes more and more important, expect to see more booths like Bimmer’s at CES.
Further Reading
Read our full review on the 2018 BMW iNext Concept.
BMW Showcases Its First Autonomous Motorcycle.