BMW i Vision Dee concept hints at new beginning for 3 Series

BMW unveiled its i Vision Dynamics electric concept vehicle today, representing the "next level of human-machine interaction," in the German automaker's view. This vehicle gives a preview of the high-tech future in store for the BMW 3 Series.

The four-door sedan concept is built on BMW's Neue Klasse platform, which will support a variety of future BMW models with internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, and electric powertrains. This platform will go into production in 2025 and is meant to replace the recently released BMW i3 electric sedan for the Chinese market.

The i Vision Dee has several new digital features, such as a head-up display that projects information across the entire windscreen. This will be included in models based on the Neue Klasse platform and released in the mid-decade, according to BMW.

The name of the concept, which stands for Digital Emotional Experience, gives a glimpse of the new exterior design language that BMW plans to use on future production models.

The exterior design, which resembles the BMW Circular concept car shown at the 2021 Munich Motor Show, shows a new enclosed front with digital panels replacing the traditional kidney grille. These panels have LED headlights as "phygital" (physical-digital) icons.

The headlights adjust their shape and size based on the task at hand and display a visual greeting when the vehicle arrives or departs. BMW claims that this gives the concept its own unique facial expressions. The bonnet of the i Vision Dee has a deeper center scallop, and the sides have smooth surfaces without any feature lines.

Unlike current production BMWs, which have a higher side window line, the new concept brings it lower. It also allows for full-color avatars of the driver, personalized welcome messages, and digital symbols to be displayed on the windshield taking full advantage of the extra estate.

The concept also has e-ink overlay that allows for various patterns and phygital iconography to be incorporated into certain parts of the exterior. One of these areas is the C-pillar, which has a digital version of BMW's traditional Hofmeister kink design element. This feature was first shown with the color-changing iX concept at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

The front design of the i Vision Dee is reflected in the rear, with two new light panels split in the center and incorporated into a high-set trunk lid. The relatively low hood, long wheelbase, and lack of overhangs on the concept suggest slightly revised three-box proportions for future BMW sedans.

The i Vision Dee also serves as a showcase for BMW's upcoming operating system, which will power the brand's next generation of vehicles. BMW plans to forgo the central infotainment display that has been present in its cars since the fourth-generation BMW 7 Series in 2001. Instead the new head-up display will be the focal point of the entire system.

BMW is aiming to give drivers fine control over the amount of information and distractions they are exposed to during a trip. Using what the company calls "Mixed Reality Slider" drives can adjust the amount of content overlaid on the windshield.

The i Vision Dee is the second of three concept cars BMW has created to showcase models built on the Neue Klasse platform. The first, the i Vision Circular, focused on using recycled materials in construction. It is expected that a third concept car, which will focus on battery and drivetrain technologies, will be unveiled later this year.

No details about the drivetrain of the i Vision Dee have been released, but BMW has confirmed that it is working on an advanced cylindrical battery technology that will significantly increase the driving range and charging speeds of its Neue Klasse EVs.

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