BMW Introduces Next-Gen iDrive 8 Multimedia System

Hard to believe, but BMW's multimedia system is already, officially as of this week, into its eighth generation. The German automaker yesterday introduced to the world the latest generation of the system, which is expected to debut later this year in the iX electric SUV and i4 sedan.

The iDrive 8 aims to deliver a better user experience, including an improved voice recognition system, a massive touchscreen and a myriad of new features. And users will once again have a thumbwheel to access them, which is good news. With voice commands, there will be three ways to interact with the system.

What's striking about what was presented is that the interface is accessible via a huge curved screen. In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, the multimedia system unit is 14.9 inches and is continuous with the 12.3-inch instrument cluster.

The most dominant aspect of the iDrive 8 experience, however, is the voice recognition system. It’s designed to prioritize dialogue-based interaction with iDrive 8. The system's artificial intelligence, called BMW Intelligent Assistant, can be displayed on the screens and even distinguish which occupant is talking to it.

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