BMW i Vision Dee: this concept showcases the future of digital at CES 2023

BMW’s design takes a radical turn with the new Vision Dee concept, packed with onboard technologies, like paint.

The brand had announced something new at CES 2023, and it does not disappoint. The BMW i Vision Dee is an unprecedented concept car, becoming less and less rare outside of a traditional auto show. In Las Vegas, the tech and digital epicenter, what does this electric car offer?

No screens, but more interactions

“With the BMW i Vision Dee, we showcase what is possible when hardware and software merge,” describes Oliver Zipse, CEO of the German manufacturer, “in this sense, we are able to exploit the full potential of digitization, transforming the car into an intelligent companion.”

Inside, no more screens. And yes, at a time when surfaces are expanding and multiplying, BMW takes the opposite path. The dashboard is now just a large fabric-covered block, with the steering wheel. To browse information and functions, the central surface appears as light. Virtual screens are integrated through the base of the windshield, in the form of an augmented head-up display. Impressive, but there is concern about the distraction this solution may cause.

To prevent random manipulations, the BMW i Vision Dee is named because it introduces the new virtual assistant “Dee.” More human and advanced than today, it will not only launch essential functions but also facilitate interaction with the digital world, such as the metaverse or social media.

A customizable paint that suits your mood

Hold on tight, because BMW’s design is far from finished evolving. The swollen nostrils of the latest BMW i4 or i7 already shocked purists, but everything is about to change. The Vision Next 100 concept already previewed the pair of small headlights in a vertical shape. Then, in September 2021, the prototype of the compact i Vision Circular showed more prominent forms and, above all, the end of the bean-shaped grille. The new BMW i Vision Dee confirms this, but in the form of a sedan. Some will see it as a reinterpretation of the 1970s Series 3, because it indeed has a touch of retro in the design.

Behind the very white bodywork of this concept car lies variable painting technology. After the iX changing from white to black last year, here the “E Ink” layer allows 32 colors to choose from, via the 240 surface elements glued together. This means you can display a solid color, or a black hood, white roof, red stripes, mosaic, and even the wheels can change! The grille can also become black or match the body color, giving different looks from one vehicle to another.

The BMW of 2025 is already here

Behind the eye-catching colors at CES 2023, a glimpse of future BMWs is woven. The automaker is previewing its new “Neue Klasse” platform, 100% electric and aiming to compete with Volkswagen’s MEB/PPE, Hyundai-Kia’s E-GMP, or Tesla. The BMW i Vision Dee is therefore a concept that illustrates a potential BMW i3 built on this new platform. But we will have to wait, as the first vehicle is scheduled for 2025.

Also read: BMW XM Concept, an oversized plug-in hybrid SUV