The new version of BMW’s infotainment system, iDrive 8.5, is meant to be more like a smartphone than older versions. The new operating system’s home screen will be easier to use and let you change how it looks. Cars that already have iDrive eight will be able to get iDrive 8.5 this summer. This includes all EVs, the X5 SUV, the new plug-in hybrid XM, and the 7-series. The first iDrive system came out with the E65 generation of the BMW 7-series in 2001. It had a control knob that looked like a computer mouse. In the past few years, a large number of individuals have increased their usage of smartphones. As a result, many of them have become accustomed to using their fingers to pinch, poke, or swipe on displays to activate various services. Because BMW’s job is to give customers what they want, the iDrive 8.5 update that will come out this summer will be more like a smartphone than ever. For cars that already have iDrive 8, the new infotainment system will be available as either a factory update or an over-the-air (OTA) update. BMW cars include the 7-series, the electric i4 and iX, mid-size SUVs (X5, X6, and X7), and the plug-in hybrid XM. BMW says that the iDrive 8.5 home screen is made to make smartphone users feel more comfortable. The new infotainment system is said to have a menu structure like an iPhone and functions that are set up logically. The iDrive 8.5 home screen can be changed and made your own. Since the new Interface has fewer layers, finding what you want in the menus will be easier, making it less distracting. On the driver’s side of the iDrive 8.5 infotainment screen, a vertical space makes it easy to get to things like media, navigation, vehicle settings, and more. Users can return to the home screen by touching the “home” icon at the bottom of the display. The new infotainment features align with BMW’s stated goal of giving touch and voice commands more importance. This idea will go even further with the release of iDrive 9, which will make its debut on the BMW X1 in 2024. Version 8.5 of iDrive runs on an operating system based on Linux, but the ninth generation of iDrive will use software based on Android. But it looks like BMW’s iDrive won’t have knobs in the future, which is terrible news for those who like physical controls like the ones on the E65 7-series.
