The long-awaited BMW 8-Series Coupe is officially out of the bag and on first impressions, it appears to be everything we were hoping for.
Featuring a sexy and evocative design, as well as two impressive powertrain options, the 8-Series Coupe will certainly leave some Mercedes executives sweating. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the 8-Series is its new ConnectedDrive software, detailed in this video.
If 8-Series owners have a smartphone with an NFC chip, they’ll be able to simply place their phone alongside the door handle to gain access. Once their phone is placed on the wireless charging pad, the car can be started. However, this isn’t the most important aspect of ConnectedDrive.
With the 8-Series, BMW has introduced a seamless over-the-air update system for the vehicle. When new software is released, owners can use WiFi to download it on their phone. The car will then connect to the smartphone the next time it is turned on and will pre-install the new software. It then just takes 20 minutes for a full installation before it’s good to go.
As recently as last month, BMW Group’s head of digital services, Dieter May, said the automaker was still finalizing its strategy for over-the-air updates.
“We are still working on our strategy. We are deciding which pieces of software can be updated over the air and how – at home using your local LAN or using the SIM embedded in the car,” May told Automotive News Europe.