At CES, BMW as we speak unveiled its new i Imaginative and prescient Dee idea automotive, an E Ink-clad four-door sedan that may shift colours on demand. Why ‘Dee,’ you certainly ask? It stands for Digital Emotional Expertise. We’ll depart it at that, however what issues right here is that it’s BMW’s platform for exhibiting off its new head-up show, which is all about giving drivers a selection of how a lot augmented actuality they need to see as they drive.

Utilizing a five-step choice, drivers can select in the event that they solely need to see driving-related data or in the event that they need to add knowledge from their communications techniques, an augmented actuality undertaking or a very digital expertise with blacked-out home windows (whereas driving autonomously).

Picture Credit: BMW

Clearly, it is a idea and I don’t assume we’ll see folks lounge and play VR racing video games of their automotive whereas their autonomous chauffeur handles the mundane job of driving them to their subsequent assembly. However BMW additionally says that a few of this know-how will make it into manufacturing in its ‘Neue Klasse’ — its subsequent era platform — launching in 2025. This can embody a head-up show that may use your complete width of the windscreen.

Continental just lately confirmed off its Scenic View HUD, which additionally spans your complete windscreen (although solely as a small strip on the backside of the window), whereas automotive know-how firm Harman additionally as we speak introduced its new head-up show {hardware}, which isn’t fairly as futuristic, but additionally focuses on bigger fields of view and consists of integrations with driver-assistance techniques and real-time 3D object detection.

Picture Credit: BMW

And whereas BMW beforehand talked about utilizing E Ink because the outer pores and skin of its automobiles, the i Imaginative and prescient Dee now brings this to life with an exterior that’s lined by 240 E Ink segments that may show 32 colours. The automotive maker really labored with E Ink to develop the know-how that permits it to adapt these show movies for curved surfaces. There’s no phrase but on when this know-how will come to a manufacturing mannequin. Earlier this week, VW confirmed off its light-up paint, so it’s most likely solely a matter of time earlier than we see automobiles with these chameleon-like capabilities on the road.

“A BMW lives by its unparalleled digital efficiency. BMW i Imaginative and prescient Dee is about good integration of digital and bodily experiences” stated Frank Weber, member of the Board of Administration of BMW AG accountable for Growth. “Whoever excels at integrating the client’s on a regular basis digital worlds into the automobile in any respect ranges will reach mastering the way forward for car-building.”