Las Vegas, Nevada — You’re lying if you say you’ve never talked to yourself. Seriously—have you never rattled off a story or idea while alone in the comfort of a car? If you’re of the majority,dont’ be surprised when the car speaks back to you.
BMW has unveiled a talking concept car, the i Vision Dee, at the Consumer Experience Show on Thursday, which comes equipped with a digital assistant the OEM claims can mimic human interactions.
“She’s a digital companion that interacts emotionally with you,” said Oliver Zipse, BMW’s CEO. “The ultimate companion, Dee has a voice full of personality that can also be heard outside the vehicle. She intelligently responds to you and the surroundings.”
BMW says Dee is able to react and show emotions like happiness, astonishment or approval. Drivers can also display images on the side windows, such as different avatars capable of different greetings as the driver approaches.
Inside the vehicle, the i Vision Dee’s entire windshield offers multiple levels of augmented reality; projected images like GPS instruction will be see-through for minimal obstruction. BMW says this technology will be available on all models of its ‘NEUE KLASSE’ line from 2025 onwards.
The Dee sedan also offers a colour-changing facade, which BMW demonstrated on the CES stage in a rainbow of shades and patterns. The automaker first demonstrated colour-changing technology at CES last year with the BMW iX Flow featuring E ink, but that prototype could only swap between black and white.
The i Vision Dee can curate its exterior in up to 32 colours, says BMW.
It will be a while before such technology reaches the bodyshop, though. BMW says the i Vision Dee is meant to “showcase what is possible when hardware and software merge.”
“In this way, we are able to exploit the full potential of digitalization to transform the car into an intelligent companion. That is the future for automotive manufacturers.”
One Response
Wow, BMW’s new i Vision Dee is truly impressive! The ability for the car to interact emotionally with its driver and mimic human interactions is truly groundbreaking. The addition of a colour-changing facade and multiple levels of augmented reality in the windshield also adds a level of personalization and uniqueness to the driving experience. It’s exciting to see what the future holds for automotive technology and how it will continue to merge with software and digitalization. Can’t wait to see this technology hit the market in the future!