The infotainment features have grown to become a crucial selling point for new cars, which explains why automakers are frequently upgrading and improving their systems. In this context, BMW announced a new version of its iDrive, bringing improvements in the home screen and menu structure, which will gradually find its way into the current model range this year.
The new Linux-based BMW Operating System 8.5 takes better advantage of the BMW Curved Display, found in most models in the brand’s lineup following the recent model year updates. It puts more emphasis on interaction through touch and voice. As BMW describes it, there has been a transition from the “push, turn, and press” of the older versions to the “swipe, tap, and natural language” of the new interface.
Read: BMW 4-Series and M4 Getting Curved Display, OS 9 Coming Later This Year
The highlight of the OS 8.5 is the revised home screen with the QuickSelect feature and a flat menu structure where all functions are visible through shortcuts and live widgets. Inspired by smartphones, BMW designers got rid of sub-menus and adopted a zero-layer principle so it is easier for the driver to access the desired functionality. Of course, the interface is configurable and can display different kinds of graphics in place of the standard navigation map.
All models that are currently fitted with the BMW Operating System 8 will get the improved 8.5 version in 2023. The first ones to benefit from the upgrade will be the 7 Series, iX, i4, X5, X6, X7, and XM starting in July, with more models to follow.
Despite the fact that the updated Linux-based system just came out, the automaker also gave us a preview of the all-new Android-based BMW Operating System 9 which is under development. The latter will be introduced in the X1 and the 2 Series Active Tourer in November 2023 before finding its way into more models.
