Head and shoulders above — Infotainment reaches new heights!
When it comes to the infotainment and the latest user-interface within the electric iDrive 8, BMW’s most luxurious and most expensive model out there, the sky is the limit! This vehicle represents the debut of the new iDrive 8 infotainment system, which allows drivers and passengers alike to completely interact with the automobile. It is customization at its finest — showing that BMW is in fact at the forefront of its strategy.
How it works!
There are multiple ways to interact with the iDrive8, beginning with the design that features two conjoined screens with a curved, floating appearance. This results in a look that is both minimalistic and high-tech. This layout provides ease of use, much to do with the touchscreen and rotary controls as well as gesture controls.
Within the driver’s main instrument panel is a familiar set of digital gauges. The driver enjoys crisp graphics that are rooted in techy-chic, as well as a plethora of customizable options for the screen. For example, owners are able to input their navigation, media information or even the car’s advanced driver assist screen in between the dials, which display the car in its lane and the surroundings it recognizes, including other vehicles on the road.
How it compares!
When it comes to comparing the iDrive 8 with the former iDrive 7, there is no comparison! In fact, the iDrive 8 improves on the system in every possible way. While the layout is similar, with large menu tiles that provide live previews, there is now a large iPhone-like menu which, when pressed, shows all available apps in easy-to-touch icons, making it far more intuitive than many other infotainment systems.
How it excels!
This infotainment system rises above all others for several reasons, one of which is the addition of the climate menu. This represents a replacement of the physical climate controls of the past, and instead is a digital menu screen with which to control your cabin’s climate. There is a dedicated climate control menu button that is positioned at the bottom middle of the screen, allowing for quick, easy access to climate controls without having to fish through submenus. Within that menu are separate zones for the driver and passenger, with controls for temperature, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, defrosters and quick shortcuts, such as increasing the A/C to max and the ability to expertly sync the front zones. All of these features come with ease of control!
For those who want a step up in infotainment — a huge step up — then the iDrive 8 will fit the bill. Equipped with the latest version of BMW’s infotainment technology and luxurious through and through, the i8 is simply the best system — ever! More connectivity, fewer buttons. This infotainment reaches all new heights
