As part of its annual spring update, BMW has announced a series of upgrades for many models across its vehicle line-up. While offering enhanced design features – such as new paint finishes and interior color schemes for the 7 Series and new headlights for the X7 – the OEM has largely focused this year’s update on technology, announcing expanded features and new model debuts for recently-announced systems.
At the top of this list was the expansion of the OEM’s Parking Assistant Professional for the BMW 7 Series, X7, and iX models in spring 2023. While allowing these vehicles to autonomously park and maneuver in and out of parking spaces, users will now be able to control the function, and subsequently the vehicle, through the My BMW smartphone app (available for iOS and Android devices). The assistant works to help the user park more easily in tight or hard-to-access spaces and can carry out more complex maneuvers autonomously, or under the user’s control through the app. BMW used the example of a driver exiting their car while parking in a difficult space, with the automated parking system resuming operations as the user monitors the area around the vehicle.
A Maneuver Assistant included with the enhanced Parking Assistant Professional extends its scope to performing more intricate parking maneuvers and can be operated outside the car as the user monitors its progress through their smartphone. The assistant is capable of recording, and storing, up to ten maneuvers executed in different locations with a maximum distance of 200 meters for each, and up to a combined total of 600 meters. Upon returning to one of the starting points captured in a recording, the system autonomously repeats its sequence of driving tasks – including acceleration, braking, and steering, as well as multi-directional and gear changes when required. Much like its other functions, these maneuvers can be carried out inside the vehicle, or controlled remotely with a smartphone.
Spring 2023 will also see BMW Operating System 8 and the BMW Curved Display make their debut in BMW’s next-generation 4 Series and M4 vehicles. Fitted as standard equipment, these technologies provide customers with an enhanced infotainment system led by a 14.9-inch control display supported by a 12.3-inch digital information display located behind the wheel. While the system will reduce the number of physical controls present in the new models, the standard inclusion of BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant allows these functions to be activated and utilized through voice commands and touch controls.
In an upgrade impacting a larger number of models, BMW revealed a new Mode 3 charging cable that will be compatible with many of its EVs. In the spring, BMW EVs supporting 22-kW AC charging (all model variants of the BMW iX, i7 xDrive60, and iX1 xDrive30) will be given new equipment to enhance both the efficiency and speed at which their batteries can be charged. The new cable will also allow customers to charge at high-power AC public charging stations, in addition to offering double the maximum usable charging capacity compared to its previous iteration.
Select users of the OEM’s Digital Key Plus will benefit from its latest upgrade, which BMW has already made available for download. Drivers using a Samsung smartphone – or any other Android device with a UWB chip – as a digital key can now enable their vehicle to unlock automatically upon approaching it. The upgrade also works to streamline the wider Digital Key experience, making keys shared with third parties easier to activate and utilize – providing a more optimized experience for first-time users.
BMW concluded the update by confirming that the ninth version of its in-vehicle operating system will make its debut in select BMW X1 models from Q2 2023. The new OS will then roll out to further compact-class models across its line-up in other countries through the remainder of 2023. While full details on the system have not yet been revealed, BMW has counted an expanded ecosystem of in-vehicle apps, optimized touch controls, and more frequent OTA updates among its key benefits.
