Suspended giant screen, new My Modes theme mode, BMW-style electric car sound wave, color-changing car... These "mobile private cinema" style of innovative technologies come from BMW. At CES 2022 in Las Vegas from January 5 to 8, the BMW Group unveiled four innovative technologies, Named My Modes, BMW Theatre Screen, BMW IconicSounds Electric and E-ink technology, to illustrate what full-sensory immersive digital luxury should look like. Note that these innovations will begin to be gradually applied to production vehicles within this year.
Suspended giant screen in the car:
BMW becomes a "mobile private cinema"
This is the first time BMW has released a "cinema mode" future in-car entertainment system. Under the "Cinema Mode", BMW has turned the rear space into an exclusive private theater through the "BMW Floating Giant Screen", through the adjustment of lighting and sun blinds, 5G interconnection high-speed and smooth playback, 31-inch ultra-wide 8K resolution display, Bowers & Wilkins 4D diamond surround sound and customized streaming media program, users can immerse themselves in the car digital luxury cinema experience.
It is reported that the "BMW suspension giant screen" is integrated in the car's canopy system, which can be extended from the canopy to the front seat back. On-screen entertainment can be played in 16:9, 21:9, or even 32:9 formats. In the future, BMW also plans to collaborate with local Chinese suppliers to provide interesting entertainment content for Chinese consumers. BMW said that the BMW suspension giant screen has been tested many times to ensure the safety of passengers.
From the innovative introduction of "cinema mode", it can be seen that BMW is trying to make functions simpler and more convenient through intelligent ways, creating an inspiring experience for users through immersive technology and excellent design aesthetics.
New themes and sounds:
Electric vehicles should also have a personality "sound wave"
This time, BMW released four new My Modes themed modes, namely "Soothing Mode", "Joyful Mode", "Digital Art Mode" and "Cinema Mode". Among them, the "soothing mode" is inspired by nature, and the main color of the user interface visual design adopts a light and gentle "light cyan", and there are two experience modes of daytime and nighttime that can be chosen at will. "Joyful Mode" has its own slogan - light up the night sky. "Soothing Mode" and "Joyful Mode" will be launched in the second half of 2022, when users can get a new theme mode through the remote upgrade of OTA.
The sound of BMW fuel vehicles has always been loved by car fans. Facing the era of electrification, the BMW Group released a new BMW electric vehicle sound wave simulation work this time, so that electric vehicles still have the "emotion" expression of sound. Don't underestimate, this wave was created by the BMW Group in conjunction with the Grammys, Oscar and Golden Globe winners - the internationally renowned composer Hans Zimmer.
Outside the car, BMW has also designed a pedestrian acoustic warning function (AVAS) to allow pedestrians to perceive nearby vehicles to ensure safety. Inside the car, BMW designed exclusive sound effects for each "theme mode", each of which has a rich sense of layering and matches the visual effects presented in different "theme modes". It is reported that the BMW electric vehicle sound wave simulation will be the first to be installed on the innovative BMW i4 in the first half of 2022, and will be gradually applied to more BMW electric models in the future.
"E-Ink" technology:
Not only "discolored", but also energy-saving
The fourth innovation released by BMW at CES is the discoloration of the body. This is a latest research result of BMW's exploration of the future of digitalization, and they have pioneered the application of "e-ink" technology. Using the unique technology of "e-ink", the one-button color change function of the body was successfully realized on the innovative BMW iX.
According to reports, "electronic ink" contains millions of transparent microcapsules, the diameter is only the thickness of a hair. Each microcapsule contains a negatively charged white pigment, as well as a positively charged black pigment. By controlling the electrodes on both sides of the microcapsule, the desired color appears on the body surface. BMW manufactures different sizes of "electronic ink" according to the pattern and the curvature of the car surface, which is then fixed to the car, and finally achieves a key change of color through the change of electrodes.
In addition to its observability, the BMW study is also environmentally friendly. It is reported that "electronic ink" is also conducive to reducing energy consumption. The changeable body colours increase interior comfort and reduce the energy required for the electrical system. If the body color is changed to a light color, the impact of strong external sunlight and high temperature on the interior of the vehicle can be reduced accordingly, and the interior such as the center console and dashboard can be prevented from overheating. At lower temperatures, turning the body dark can help absorb more heat from sunlight, reduce the energy consumption required for air conditioning heating, and effectively increase the electric range.
In the future, BMW's digital experience will use this innovative technology to more integrate reality and virtual effects to meet the needs of users to freely express their personalities.
Text/Guangzhou Daily, New Flower City Reporter: Deng Li
Photo/ Guangzhou Daily, New Flower City Reporter: Deng Li
Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Zhao Dongqin