What's the news?
BMW has released initial details of a futuristic looking digital dashboard, which it calls the 'Curved Display'. It'll debut in the iNext, referred to by BMW as its 'technology flagship', in 2021.
"The curved, single-section display is the central control element and represents the modern interpretation of driver orientation. It occupies a dominant central position in a highly iconic display structure that provides a highly distinctive display experience," explains Domagoj Dukec, Head of BMW Design. "The Curved Display is set in high-quality materials and is virtually freely suspended on the instrument panel. This makes it a key element in terms of the modern, luxurious and generous sense of space in the BMW iNEXT."
Sadly, the images we do have don't show the face of the curved display, though we're expecting a lot more customisation than is found in the current BMW Live Cockpit Professional system. And though BMW makes a lot of the fact that the new display is (just like its older analogue layouts) angled towards the driver, apparently, what's on the screen can be configured so the passengers can see it too. As the iNext is thought to pioneer the next stage of autonomous driving for BMW, it's conceivable that this curved display will be able to show films and television to everyone in the car at some stage in the future.
Design-wise, the curved display is held in place by a slim bracket made out of lightweight magnesium, which seemingly is not visible by those in the car, to give the screen a floating appearance. Along with that, there's non-reflecting glass used.
Anything else?
By way of reminder, the 2021 BMW iNext is shaping up to be an advanced electric SUV, paving the way for a whole new generation of BMWs. We got a chance to explore a concept version last year - read all about it here.