BMW reveals new iDrive system that takes over your windshield

This week at CES 2025, BMW has revealed a new iDrive system that it calls iDrive with Panoramic Vision. In a bid to reduce dependency on in-car displays, this new system utilizes the car’s windshield to essentially turn it into a full panoramic heads-up display.

That seems like it might block the visibility of the driver while on the road. But the whole system appears to be put together rather elegantly. By the sounds of it, you’d think it projects information across the entire windshield, but that isn’t quite accurate. While information is displayed across the entire length of the windshield, details are only visible across the bottom edge from A-pillar to A-pillar.

So the driver still has full view of the road and everything else in front of them. BMW says this technology is “for projecting content that reflects visible information from A-pillar to A-pillar onto a black printed surface in the lower section of the windscreen.”

BMW says its new iDrive panoramic vision will arrive in vehicles later this year

The company refers to this as just a concept for now. That being said, it’s only referenced as such in its current state. The automaker plans to have it inside of future BMW vehicles as soon as 2025. Stating that it would be in vehicles later this year. In terms of what can be displayed, the “most important information” is displayed in front of the driver. Such as your current speed, how many miles are on the car, and how much gas or battery power you have left.

It’s also possible to customize the remaining information that’s displayed on the panoramic vision hud across the rest of the windshield. This can be customized using the central display as well. Basically, drivers can pick and choose what’s shown directly in their eye line. Meanwhile, other information is placed in the center and on the right side.

The windshield won’t cost extra to replace

This tech might sound expensive but it’s really all relative. The vehicle itself that it comes in might be. However, fixing a rock chip won’t cost any additional money. This is because the windshield is covered in a film that gives the 3D effect to the information, and that information is projected onto the black strip across the bottom edge. Which BMW says is the same across all BMW vehicles.

In addition to the panoramic vision hud, BMW is also introducing a new multifunctional steering wheel. It has what BMW is calling its ‘Shy-Tech’ approach. Available buttons are illuminated and provide haptic feedback to the driver when pressed. These changes, BMW says, are designed to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.