BMW Maps is getting a major interface update that combines navigation, 3D surroundings, and driver assistance information in a single view. The new system shows the vehicle, road, and surrounding traffic in real time, creating an interface that resembles a video-game HUD.
The updated BMW Maps experience begins rolling out in October on vehicles equipped with the latest iDrive X system. Initially, that includes the BMW i3, iX3, X5/iX5, and 7 Series/i7. The next-generation 3 Series, which is debuting in the following weeks, will also receive the latest infotainment technology, as will the iX4, which should break cover before the end of the year.
BMW Maps Brings Navigation and Driver Assistance Together
The latest BMW Maps system puts navigation, the vehicle’s surroundings, and driver assistance information together on the central display. Rather than presenting a conventional map separately from driver assistance information, the system visualizes the car, the road, and surrounding traffic within a single 3D environment.
The vehicle appears precisely within its lane and at the correct road level. BMW says the approach is designed to make the system easier to understand when driving on multilane highways, approaching intersections, or navigating busy city streets.
The display also shows how the vehicle perceives its surroundings and which driver-assistance functions are currently helping.
A Video-Game-Like View With a Serious Purpose
The new interface may recall the top-down perspective used in the original Grand Theft Auto games, particularly GTA1 and GTA2, where the car, roads, and surrounding traffic were represented from above.
BMW’s system applies a far more sophisticated version of that concept to vehicle navigation and driver assistance. By combining the navigation route with information from the vehicle’s sensors, the system provides a visual representation of what the car is doing and why.
The new BMW Maps experience is also intended to be useful when the vehicle takes over more of the driving.
BMW Highway Assistant Supports Hands-Free Driving
The latest Highway Assistant enables hands-free driving on highways at speeds of up to 81 mph (130 km/h). The system handles steering as well as acceleration and braking, and it can perform automated lane changes after the driver confirms the maneuver with a glance.
When route guidance is active, the system can support the driver from the highway entrance to the exit.
BMW also says its driver-assistance technology will expand beyond highways. Starting in 2027, vehicles equipped with iDrive X will begin receiving navigation-guided semi-automated driving in urban areas, initially in Germany.
That development gives the new 3D display a role beyond simply showing directions. The interface is designed to visually connect the navigation route with what the driver assistance technology is doing.
How BMW Maps Creates the 3D Environment
BMW developed the integrated system in-house, while Mapbox supplies the navigation data and mapping technology.
The software combines map information with data from the vehicle’s sensors and artificial intelligence to create the 3D representation displayed to the driver.
BMW Takes Its Digital Displays Further
BMW has been using increasingly detailed visualizations in its driver assistance systems, including three-dimensional representations of the vehicle and surrounding traffic. The latest BMW Maps system takes that approach further by placing navigation and driver assistance information within the same visual environment.
The system also takes advantage of the latest iDrive X interface and its 17.9-inch center screen, which dominates the dashboard.
The result is a 3D representation in which the vehicle is shown moving through its surroundings while navigation information, real-time sensor data, and driver assistance information are presented together.
BMW’s updated Maps interface begins rolling out in October on vehicles equipped with the newest iDrive X, initially covering the i3, iX3, X5/iX5, and 7 Series/i7, with the next-generation 3 Series and iX4 also set to receive the latest infotainment technology.
