A high-tech key fob with a digital screen sounds and is pretty neat, but the BMW 7-Series’ new Display Key has an even neater feature, as it allows you to use it as a remote control to park your car while standing outside!
In yet another sign that advanced gadgets and features from halo cars quickly trickle down to more pedestrian models, the G11 (short wheelbase) / G12 (long-wheelbase) 7-Series becomes the second BMW after the exotic i8 hybrid sports coupe to get a key fob that has more in common with your mobile phone and/or smart watch than with a traditional key.
Where it differs from the i8 is that the 7’s new Display Key also governs BMW’s world first Remote Control Parking (RCP) feature, which in simpler terms, is an autonomous parking system that allows the driver to move the car forwards into or in reverse out of a parking space while standing outside.
RCP can only be engaged if vehicle is positioned centrally in front of the selected parking space, while the distance the vehicle is allowed to travel in driverless mode when entering and leaving the parking space is limited to 1.5 times the length of the car. Gimmicky? Surely. Useless? I think so – unless you’re a parking attendant who has to fit as many cars next to each other as possible, in which case, you might actually find it super handy. But it sounds undeniably cool for the first couple of times you’ll ever use it as an owner.
BMW hasn’t fully detailed the high-tech key fob that gets a 2.2-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 320×240 pixels, but it should include all functions offered on its i Remote App for smart phones and watches such as remote locking, navigation instructions, driving range (as seen in the picture) and then some more.
Photo Gallery
