BMW lifts the veil on its new Panoramic Vision head-up display. An innovative system that takes the form of a huge screen that spans the entire width of the windshield. But is it really essential?
Screens have always been more or less present in cars, while some models were already equipped with it in the 1980s. But in recent years, things have accelerated very markedly. There is no longer any model that is not at least equipped with a small digital panel. Even low-cost cars like the Dacia Spring and other Leapmotor T03s are no exception.
A huge screen
Today, these screens are taking up more and more space, often to the point of replace physical controls. However, some manufacturers are aware that this is not ideal, such as Volkswagen, which recently made its mea-culpa. But some, on the contrary, want to go even further and make the interiors of their vehicles even more technological.
This is particularly the case of BMW, which has just lifted the veil on its latest innovation. It’s about Panoramic Vision, which takes the form of a huge head-up display. The latter thus has the particularity of extending over the entire width of the windshield. Which reminds us of the driving position of the electric SUV from the start-up Aehra.
As the manufacturer, which could copy Tesla’s strategy for its electric cars, explains in a press release, this system displays a lot of information such as speed, time or even the title of the song being played. This device also allows share certain data with the passengerwhich also benefits from this head-up display offering enhanced contrast.
This device is also consistent with BMW’s approach ” hands on the wheel, eyes on the road“. Thus, security is improved since it will no longer be necessary to look down, even a few centimeters. However, this is already what many manufacturers offer with their head-up displays projected directly onto the windshield. This is particularly the case with Volkswagen, which uses augmented reality.
BMW already uses traditional head-up displays in its cars, and we can also see from the images shared by the manufacturer that it will also be there. It will be placed above the Panoramic Vision, just in front of the driver.
Arrival in 2025
At the beginning of the year, BMW took advantage of the CES in Las Vegas to lift the veil on its concept i Vision Dee. The latter presented many technologies that would later be implemented in production vehicles, including an innovative windshield that could be transformed into a real cinema screen. A system that will be particularly useful when the manufacturer offers level 5 autonomous driving.
However, this is not for now, while level 4 will not see the light of day before the end of the decade according to Mercedes. But from 2025, BMW will equip its cars with its Panoramic Vision. His arrival will coincide with the inauguration of the Neue Klasse platform. Dedicated solely to electric cars, it will equip the future 3 Series as well as the entire range in the long term.
On the other hand, this will not be the case for the BMW i5, whose arrival was confirmed by the manufacturer a little earlier in the year. In a press release, the latter gives us new details on the electric sedan, which will also be available as a Touring station wagon with a launch planned for 2024. We also learn thata 100% electric M version is also on the programinspired by the i4 M50 that we were able to try.
This newcomer should be available with several batteries from 80 to 101.7 kWh, allowing it to reach 600 kilometers according to the WLTP cycle. BMW does not wish to go further in order to limit the size of the accumulators, while waiting for the arrival of a solid alternative. The sedan as the break should also be equipped with the level 3 autonomous driving in order to compete with the Mercedes Drive Pilot.
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