BMW has signed on suppliers for the next generation iDrive system set to debut in both BMW and MINI vehicles from 2013 onwards. The lucky suppliers are Harman and Magneti Marelli. According to a joint press release by the two suppliers, BMW’s next generation iDrive is said to blend open-platform technology from Magneti Marelli with Harman connectivity and mobile office expertise.
The system will be powered by NVIDIA’s system-on-a-chip (SOC) technology for scalable microprocessor power and graphic performance at cost effective price. Navigation data will be stored on flash memory. The current iDrive system either stores its map data on hard drives or DVDs.
In addition to developing the system together, Harman will manufacture the new infotainment system for BMW vehicles in the Asian markets while Magneti Marelli will take care of the European markets. The system will support multiple-language speech and navigation including the all important Chinese language navigation module for the growing Chinese market.
I’m not sure whether QNX will continue to be used for iDrive, since Harman no longer owners QNX. They’ve sold QNX off to Blackberry maker RIM not too long ago. We cannot rule out the new system to be based on QNX once again since Harman are buddies with with RIM – “This move allows Harman to continue its relationship with QNX and the advanced software solutions it provides to Harman and our customers,” said Harman CEO Dinesh C. Paliwal.
Magneti Marelli has had a history of using Microsoft Auto in the past for in-car computer systems developed for Ford, and they’ve also used Wind River’s VxWorks. Previous generations of iDrive have been built on various platforms that include Windows CE, VxWorks, and QNX. The latest iDrive uses QNX and is made by Harman’s Becker unit while the first horrible version used Windows CE.
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Hi Paul, why do you consider them lucky suppliers?
er… because got deal, make money?
Whatever the tech BMW puts in the idrive, BMW Malaysia better equip it in every of their cars. Rm 250k for a ‘kosong’ car is really taking advantage of loyalist trust like me. The X1 particularly terrible rm300k with an outdated cd player
its too much driver distraction , wats the point of having internet access and aLL that , i mean if u really need it u probably have it on ur phone……
its silly , and it only increases the price of the car…..its totally unecessary…..
At it is now, they may be few uses for it. Wait until someone, somebody create a killer application for the internet-in-the-dash. Think of a route planner application of some sort. Enter your destination – A smart computer system (or simply a life human) with real-time overall view of the traffic condition could be guiding you with the best route to take. Avoiding heavy traffic road, detours, toll etc – all communicated via that internet connectivity.
Internet-in-the-dash. It’s still a new thing. But it has great potentials.
Having to scroll through menus while driving…. isn’t that dangerous?
this Nvidia-based design is for the lower end BMWs, maybe the 5 and definitely the 3 and Minis.
Distracting? What if you just need to stare into your windscreen and all the information are projected on your windscreen? not just a portion of your windscreen but the whole of it, in HD…imagine this, an arrow projected right in front of your windscreen telling you where exactly to turn
It would be better to supply all BMW’s with HUD as standard option.
iDrive is just another electronic gimmick that almost all high end car manufacturers are playing with to give perception of high end (or high class) to their cars.
HUD on the other hand, is practical, less glamorous but it enhances safety. Tie in an infra-red camera to the HUD system & you’ll have “an eye that can see in the dark”. Another safety feature.