If you’re looking for a reason to feel old let me help. BMW’s own infotainment system iDrive is 20 years old this year.
To celebrate, BMW took a look back at the technology and teased some changes that will come with the latest iteration of the system that will be unveiled in the iX electric car at this year’s CES.
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In the iX, BMW will follow the trend towards massive dashboard screens, which is a welcome addition. Compared to cars like the Tesla Model S or the Polestar 2, the screens in BMWs seem a bit small lately.
Best of all, BMW keeps its analog rotary knob and doesn’t remove it in favor of voice or touchscreens.
In the early days, iDrive was a little rough around the edges and the knobs were a little more confusing than necessary.
Turning it scrolls through the menus on the screen, and you can also press forward, backward, left, or right to perform certain functions.
Photo credit: Wikimedia CC If you ask me, the 2015 BMW iDrive really came of age. It was quick and easy to use, ergonomic, and just made sense.
Over the years this system has evolved and buttons been introduced that allow users to quickly navigate to certain functions such as navigation or music.
Using the latest iDrive system is quick, easy and can be done without taking your eyes off the road. It’s not just the software design that makes it so user-friendly, its physical ergonomics also deserve praise.
Just place your arm over the center armrest and it’s there, teasing your fingertips.
Credit: BMW’s iDrive system was simple, easy to use, and perfectly placed at the driver’s fingertips. Once used to the layout, no additional attention has been paid to operation.
More recently, BMW has added gesture controls that allow drivers to skip tracks and turn up the volume by simply waving their hands in front of the dashboard.
The German automaker has also equipped some of its vehicles with touchscreens to enable more direct human input.
But the rotary knob never got loose, and we should all be happy because it’s simply the best input control for a vehicle’s infotainment system.
Credit: The BMWBMW’s next generation iDrive retains the rotary knob, which has been a key feature of the system from the start.
I would even argue that it is so good and iconic for BMW vehicles that it becomes just as important as the kidney grille, the Hofmeister kink, and the propeller-inspired roundel.
The next-generation iDrive system will launch in the company’s flagship iX, which will be launched in 2022.
Sure, BMW’s iDrive wasn’t the best system to begin with, but the German automaker has stuck to its guns and developed them further over the years. It’s one of the best systems out there now, and we should respect BMW for not abandoning it in favor of more futuristic sounding and marketable input methods.
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
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Published on January 12, 2021 – 15:31 UTC
