When the new BMW X5, BMW 8 Series, Z4 and 3 Series will finally be delivered to owners around the world later this year, they will have the most advanced iDrive system BMW ever made on board, along with some of the most advanced driver assistance technologies they put together. Apart from the new digital instrument cluster and the seventh iteration of the iDrive system, there’s a novelty about to be launched that will actually follow your face around, to make sure you’re paying attention to the road.
Behind the steering wheel, BMW has installed a camera, in the instrument cluster which will be watching the driver’s face to check whether he or she is paying attention to the road. This optical camera will basically make sure that if you engage the features of the Extended Traffic Jam Assistant system – which is optional, part of a $1,700 package – you are still paying attention to the road ahead without you having to keep your hand on the steering wheel, as it was the case before.
This system will therefore keep an eye on you in heavy traffic, when you don’t have to do much from behind the wheel and you may want to let the car do the driving itself. Nevertheless, since you can’t actually let the car handle everything without you paying attention, a safety precaution was needed to make sure your eyes are at least open, hence the camera. The new BMW Live Cockpit will also come with a host of other features.
You’ll be able to personalize the content displayed in front of you in the dash as well as the one displayed on the HUD. The BMW Operating System 7.0 also allows you to perform Remote Updates which means you won’t have to go to a dealer to update your infotainment system, instead being able to perform it using your phone. The BMW Connected app notifies the user when an upgrade is available. The download takes place directly in the app – for example, over home Wi-Fi. As soon as the smartphone is connected to the vehicle after download, the installation data begins transferring to the vehicle.
