Updated iDrive system builds on success of the original
Published Thursday November 27th, 2008
With cars in the recent past becoming more complicated and packed with features, dashboards have been becoming increasingly cluttered with buttons, switches and displays. The need arose to centralize navigation, communication, entertainment and climate controls- so one automaker invented a very special system that was up to the task.
That automaker was BMW- and their innovative iDrive system was first presented in 2001 as a solution to end dashboard control overload.
iDrive was intended to enable its user to seamlessly employ essential vehicle functions via a single console-mounted controller and a multi-function display.
Despite a few negative reviews over the years, the system was easily leaned by most, and proved a success.
As it goes with many original and successful creations, iDrive spawned spin-off variants from the competition- like Audi's Multi Media Interface and Mercedes-Benz's COMMAND system.
Hyundai's Genesis even has an available iDrive knockoff.
Seven years and over 2 million iDrive equipped cars later, BMW has finished analyzing the competition and is ready to launch the second generation of their trendsetting system.
A result countless hours of ergonomics and perception studies, the new iDrive draws on multitudes of practical and scientific information, and it intends to blow the competition out of the water.
A 500-person test-panel was used in a variety of real world and laboratory situations to help develop the system.
Participants from several countries helped BMW narrow their options down into four potential choices for the next-generation iDrive before the best was selected.
Criteria included minimized distraction, time and complication in entering or retrieving information.
Comparisons showed that test subjects became more comfortable more quickly with BMW's new iDrive than with similar setups offered by other manufacturers.
Additionally, BMW says that their new iDrive will allow users to navigate many of its functions in a 'blind' state- without the need to look at controls or displays.
Operating in a blind state would be impossible with a touch screen system, as it lacks the tactile feedback provided by the iDrive control knob.
Said knob can be rotated 360 degrees, tipped left to right, forwards and backwards or depressed fully.
Corresponding menus and maps are displayed on an updated centre screen, available in 8.8 or 10.2 inch sizes with a full-color display resolution of 1,280 x 480 pixels.
This resolution produces graphics comparable to those on a high-definition television.
The central control knob is joined by multifunction steering wheel mounted buttons and 8 or more 'favorites' buttons on the centre console which allow for quick and easy access to radio stations, phone numbers and navigation destinations.
Four direct-selection keys are included for faster menu navigation as well.
The BMW 3-Series and 7-Series currently offer the updated iDrive system, which will be available in other BMW models in the very near future.
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