Experience the BMW iX3 smart cockpit, what makes it different from luxury brands?

With the arrival of the era of smart electric vehicles, intelligent configurations represented by autonomous driving and smart cockpits will be the core competitiveness of automobiles.

A number of new car companies have fired the first shot in the smart cockpit with large and multiple screens in the car, and have received good market feedback. Not to be outdone, established players have begun to fight back with a new generation of in-car infotainment systems that integrate various cutting-edge technologies.

For example, BMW's main pure electric model on sale, the "Innovative Pure Electric BMW iX3" (hereinafter referred to as iX3), is equipped with the seventh-generation iDrive in-car infotainment system, which supports four interaction methods: touch, buttons, voice, and gestures. It supports the download of third-party applications and is also supplemented by two mobile phone-car mapping systems: Apple Carplay/Baidu Carlife.

From the perspective of feature richness, the performance is remarkable, but what is the actual experience like?

▲BMW iX3

After completing the BMW iX3's 1,000-kilometer long-distance driving challenge in December 2020, Chedongxi recently had an intimate contact with this pure electric SUV for half a month. It will comprehensively interpret the competitiveness of the iX3 from four aspects: pure electric driving experience, autonomous driving, smart cockpit and ten highlight details.

This article is the first in the series of reports, and will examine the strength of the iX3 from the dimensions of the convenience of mobile phone-car interconnection, the richness of Internet services, and connected driving.

1. Mobile phone and car interconnection: Wireless CarPlay is very convenient

Nowadays, smartphones have become everyone’s most important information, communication and entertainment device. It is crucial to integrate the mobile phone with the car computer after getting in the car.

The answer given by iX3 is Apple CarPlay mobile phone-car mapping system, and it is also a wireless connection version.

▲BMW iX3 supports wireless CarPlay connection

If you are an Apple phone user, after connecting the car via the iPhone's Bluetooth, you can set the connection mode to CarPlay.

Then an Apple operating system will appear on the central control screen, and you can use common apps such as Baidu Maps, Amap, QQ Music, NetEase Cloud Music, Himalaya, etc. that come with the phone.

These apps are basically consistent with the UI style and interaction logic of the mobile phone. At the same time, the favorite locations in the map app and the song lists in the music app are also retained intact, making them familiar and easy to use.

▲Listening to music using CarPlay in the car

There are two details worth noting here.

First, the iX3 is equipped with a wireless version of CarPlay, which allows you to connect to CarPlay without using a data cable. When you scan the code to pay when leaving the parking lot, you don't need to unplug the data cable to operate your phone, which is very convenient.

Secondly, the iX3’s central control screen has a high resolution, and Apple CarPlay’s excellent UI design looks stunning on this screen. The screen also supports touch operation, and the operating experience is very similar to that of the iPhone and iPad.

The above two advantages are obvious, but they do not mean they are perfect. When using CarPlay for navigation, there is a slight delay in the navigation information on the car screen, and the phone will also heat up more.

2. Online services: Tencent and ByteDance are both on board

The prosperity of smartphones and mobile Internet is inseparable from the support of massive APPs, and the same is true for smart cars. If you want to expand the connected driving experience of the smart cockpit, various third-party APPs are crucial.

How does iX3 perform in this regard?

First of all, the seventh-generation iDrive system supports third-party application downloads. The car we tested was installed with third-party applications such as Tencent Mini Scene, Flight Assistant, Tmall Car Assistant, Xigua Video, etc., which can provide voice assistant, news consultation, short videos and other Internet content. However, because it is not an Android system, the overall application richness is slightly less than that of some domestic models.

Here I would like to focus on two applications: Tencent Small Scene and Xigua Video.

▲Tencent's small scene integrates multiple Internet services

Tencent Small Scene is a super cloud APP with built-in Internet applications such as Tencent Aiquting, 36Kr Smart Edition, 2345 Car Edition, and Love Movies.

Tencent's own iQiyi integrates audio content such as QQ Music and Tencent News; 2345 is an online mini-game platform; 36Kr Smart Edition provides professional audio financial consulting; and iDianying can query the latest movie information and buy tickets online.

▲Tencent iQting provides a variety of audio content

In terms of content types, Tencent's small scenes are well done, covering music, news, and even children's stories. However, the only drawback is that some applications have a small amount of content. For example, the 36Kr Smart Edition only has a single-digit amount of audio content to listen to.

A very good thing about Tencent Mini Scenes is that the built-in applications are all cloud-based mini-programs, which can be used without downloading. They are also connected to Tencent's account system. You can log in and use various services by scanning the QR code with WeChat, which is quite convenient.

Xigua Video is another ace short video platform under ByteDance besides Douyin, with massive video content in 18 major categories including film and television, games, music, travel, and entertainment.

▲The iX3 car machine can watch Xigua Video

BMW has also moved Xigua Video to the iX3 through cooperation with ByteDance. When I am charging the iX3 or waiting for someone, I often open the Xigua Video APP to watch short videos to kill time.

It is worth noting that the in-car version of Xigua Video matches horizontal videos, which are suitable for viewing on the horizontal screen of the iX3. When the vehicle is driving, the system will prohibit the playback of videos to ensure driving safety.

Because the screen ratio is different from that of electronic devices, these videos cannot be played in full screen, and there will be some black edges on both sides. But fortunately, it is easy to operate. You can either touch the screen or use the iDrive knob to click to switch to the next video.

3. Connected driving: Mobile phone APP can directly send navigation to the car computer

In the era of connected driving, using mobile phones to remotely control cars and provide various car services has become a daily necessity for smart electric vehicles. The My BMW APP developed by BMW specifically for Chinese car owners can realize complete connected driving and service capabilities.

The first thing you see when you enter the APP is an information flow similar to WeChat Moments, where different BMW owners share their car buying and using experiences, forming a digital community for car owners.

▲My BMW APP can remotely control the vehicle

The vehicle page can check the vehicle's location, remotely control the vehicle's doors, windows, headlights, horn, and air-conditioning system, and set and share digital keys.

The app’s built-in map can also directly search for charging stations (or gas stations), and even view detailed information about the charging piles - whether they are fast charging or slow charging, and whether they are being used.

▲My BMW APP can search for charging stations and send the address to the vehicle

After choosing a suitable charging station, you can send the destination information to the vehicle with one click in the APP, and start navigation on the car computer after getting in the car. After arriving at the charging station, the biggest highlight function appears. Using this APP, you can directly scan the code to charge, without having to download the APP of the charging station, which is really very convenient.

In addition, the APP also has a built-in repair and rescue appointment system. Car owners can make appointments for maintenance services directly on the APP (and can also pick up and deliver the car at home). When the battery runs out and the car breaks down, they can also choose roadside assistance to come to the rescue.

4. Safety: 360-degree panoramic imaging system with complete details

The contents mentioned in the previous article are all highlights of the iX3 in the direction of intelligent networking. At the end of this article, I would like to talk about the iX3's low-speed 360-degree panoramic imaging system.

This system relies on cameras and ultrasonic radars placed around the vehicle to work. When reversing into a parking space or approaching an obstacle at a low speed (such as passing a highway toll station), the vehicle's central control screen will display a panoramic bird's-eye view of the vehicle and a video image of the direction of travel to ensure safe driving.

▲The panoramic imaging system of iX3 is very practical

As a mid-size SUV, the iX3 is not small in size. When entering toll stations, reversing into parking spaces and other narrow spaces, there are inevitably visual blind spots around it.

With this 360-degree panoramic imaging system, the obstacles and drivable space around the vehicle are clearly visible, and even novice drivers can drive calmly and drive the vehicle to the appropriate position.

While driving the iX3, Chedongxi discovered that the system also integrates emergency braking function.