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The German luxury car maker says the next-generation Panoramic iDrive system will eventually be available on all BMW models, starting from late 2025.
BMW has unveiled the next generation of its iDrive system, which the luxury car maker said will gradually become available on all new BMW models, starting with the Neue Klasse electric models in late 2025.
The German marque unveiled the newly developed in-house infotainment hub – dubbed the Panoramic iDrive – at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada on 7 January 2025, with the new iDrive system featuring four key technological upgrades.
Rather than stick to the traditional dashboard, BMW’s latest iDrive infotainment system shows a “panoramic vision” heads-up display (HUD) that projects driver information – like the car’s speed, surrounding speed limits, and range – onto a black screen located at the bottom of the windscreen where it meets the dashboard.
Additionally, BMW has included an optional 3D Head-Up Display (HUD) feature that maps out the navigation routes and assisted driving displays while the central display can be seen on a new screen that drivers can customise to their preference.
According to US news outlet CarBuzz, BMW has enabled owners to change the widget layout within the new central display, allowing some widgets to be added to the panoramic display that spans the entire length of the windscreen.
Meanwhile, BMW has also upgraded the steering wheel that features buttons for multi-function control such as windshield wipers, exterior mirrors, gear selectors, and volume control.
For reference, the Neue Klasse is the name of BMW’s next generation of electric cars that are underpinned by a new electric platform.
In February 2024, the car maker announced it planned to introduce a Neue Klasse “sedan in the current 3 Series segment" – expected to be the i3 – alongside the iX3, with the sedan rumoured to start production sometime in 2026.
BMW said it plans to launch “at least six new Neue Klasse models" within 24 months after production starts, however, the brand is yet to specify which models will be underpinned by the new electric platform.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
