BMW has unveiled the ‘i Vision Future Interaction’ concept car, which is primarily the Spyder variant of the BMW i8 sportscar. The focus has been on moving towards automated driving and how the user interface may look like in future, including high-resolution vehicle display where the content responds to the situation.
Furthermore, for the interaction of the passengers with the vehicles to be intuitive, all functions are controlled using touch-sensitive surfaces, gestures and voice- primarily, the AirTouch feature an advanced version of last year’s unveiled ‘gesture control’ and already seen in BMW 7 Series. The i8 Concept Spyder gets a 21-inch panorama display that extends to nearly the entire side of the passenger, Head-Up Display and an instrument cluster with 3D display.
The interior of the prototype is sporty and flexible. In manual driving mode, it creates a driver-focused environment while in automatic mode the interior creates an opportunity to relax and unwind thanks to innovatively designed seats. The driver can also make proactive use of the time gained through the expanded content available on the central information display.
Just like the vehicle adjusts to the drive mode, the digital content is optimally presented at a particular time. Data such as the charge status of the vehicle and the route can be looked by the drivers on their smart phone, smart watch or Mobility Mirror. These are then seamlessly transferred to the appropriate menus, map displays and driver information on the panorama display in the BMW i Vision Future Interaction.
Moving on, the driver receives pivotal information on the HUD which tells about the speed, speed limits and navigation within the field of vision on the front windscreen. The instrument cluster is located directly behind the steering wheel and information is shown in three-dimensional display (autostereoscopically).
The driver is also informed about the vehicles on the road ahead or oncoming which are not yet in his or her field of vision. This allows one to avoid tricky situations. Since this feature is provided during automated driving as well, the driver will get around five to seven seconds response time to take over the vehicle.
Perhaps, the 21-inch screen is the most striking feature of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. When the driver sits in the vehicle, the screen displays contents that are provided by the vision of the Open Mobility Cloud from BMW and it can also be seen automatically using the BMW Connected App on a smartphone or other digital devices. The display adjusts automatically, in response to the drive mode of the BMW i Vision Future Interaction. In future, this system can switch from audio to video transmission during phone conversations if the car is in fully automated mode. Drivers and passengers also have the option of unrestricted access to Web content, mails or audiovisual offerings. The data on the screen can also be accessed via the AirTouch feature.
In the “Auto Mode”, the vehicle takes over control of sideways and forward orientation, accelerates independently, brakes and steers – without the driver having to intervene at all. This technology is still some time away though.
The BMW i Vision Future Interaction informs the driver when they are in a convenient zone for automated driving. The driver can then change the drive mode which then causes the steering wheel to turn blue. The interior keeps on changing depending on the drive mode. In highly automated mode, lots of additional space suddenly becomes available for the people inside as the steering wheel moves forward by several centimeters. Additionally, the sports seats change their character.
Elements in the side upholstery give the seats a lounge profile, allowing the driver to turn more to the right in order to look at the panoramic display in a more relaxed position. The new freedom of movement is also supported by an extended headrest and central armrest.
The Concept Car combines intelligent lightweight construction with the advanced drive technology of BMW eDrive. It is finished in E-Copper Orange exterior paint, with highlights being accented in Frozen Grey (kidney-shaped grille, tank cover and front and rear sills), and in high-gloss black below the entrance. The BMW i Vision Future Interaction uses the LifeDrive architecture with the carbon-fibre reinforced plastic Life Module producing a very lightweight passenger cell.
The headlamps are designed with BMW laser light technology and are configured in the u-shaped design of BMW i. The flowline lines of the body resemble the i8 coupe. Meanwhile, the cabin uses instruments and materials made from plastic, carbon and leather. The seats have been upholstered in dark leather, admirably matching the exterior paint.