According to The Verge, BMW recently debuted its newest technological advancement at the Las Vegas 2022 Consumer Electronics Show. Everyone scurried for a better view as the German automaker utilized the new 2022 iX M60 electric SUV to display its unique color-changing technology.
Don’t get too excited, though; it’s just personalisation taken to a whole new level. BMW isn’t prepared to release a vehicle that can change color with the push of a button from red to blue to orange. Right now, just white, black, and gray are available. The good news is that you don’t have to stick with a single color, and according to BMW, this new paint even allows you to make moving patterns. There may not be as many options as they would want, but there are still many options available.
It’s still a really cool idea, though. The driver simply needs to click a button to alter the hue. But how did BMW manage to do it?
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The new BMW iX Flow concept car has color-changing features.
- This week, the German manufacturer showcased a brand-new concept car with color-changing “E Ink” called the iX Flow at the CES technology convention.
- Additionally, it demonstrated a brand-new 31-inch “BMW Theatre Screen” with Amazon Fire TV that is anticipated to be included in upcoming production cars.
- A specially designed body wrap that is molded to the curves of the all-electric car and resembles the material found in an Amazon Kindle E-Reader enables the fluid color changes.
Visitors examine the BMW iX Flow prototype at the BMW stand during the CES technology show on January 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. The iX Flow is a system that uses E Ink technology to replace conventional automotive paint, enabling the vehicle to alter color and appearance.
BMW doesn’t want potential customers to be concerned about the color of their next vehicle or the movies showing at the theater.
This week, the German manufacturer showcased a brand-new concept car with color-changing “E Ink” called the iX Flow at the CES technology convention. Additionally, it demonstrated a brand-new 31-inch “BMW Theatre Screen” with Amazon Fire TV that is anticipated to be included in upcoming production cars.
A specially designed body wrap that is molded to the curves of the all-electric car and resembles the material found in an Amazon Kindle E-Reader enables the fluid color changes. According to BMW, the electrophoretic technology causes the body skin to acquire the required coloring by bringing various color pigments to the surface when activated by electrical signals.
The color change is “sort of weird,” according to Stella Clarke, project lead for BMW iX Flow with E Ink, but it may also provide “some good use cases.” She claimed it allows for more self-expression, can show information like the status of a charge, and can blink if you couldn’t find it in a packed parking lot.
She remarked at a media event, “We see a lot of rational use cases behind it.
The real car is a new iX electric SUV from BMW, but the color-changing technology won’t be available in showrooms for a while. Although color-changing technology isn’t currently planned to enter production, Clarke said there may be “a road for” that in the future.
Concept cars are frequently used by automakers to test consumer interest, demonstrate potential technology, or illustrate where a vehicle or brand might go in the future.
Officials stated that although the BMW iX Flow with E Ink can only change colors on a spectrum of white, grey, and black, the technology theoretically might give more hues.
The “BMW Theatre Screen” is a 32:9-format, 31-inch panorama display with smart TV features and an 8K resolution.
According to BMW executives, “BMW Theatre Screen” production is much closer. It has a 31-inch panorama display with a 32:9 aspect ratio, smart TV features, and an 8K resolution. In order to display in the back row, the screen lowers from the vehicle’s headliner.
“We create engrossing digital experiences for pure driving enjoyment. When in Theatre Mode, the interior’s back becomes a personal movie theater, “In a statement, Frank Weber, a member of the management board of BMW AG. “A new level for in-car entertainment is developed with the 31-inch display, 5G connectivity, 8K resolution, surround sound, and individual streaming program.”
Use an app to change the color of your car: BMW introduces a color-changing vehicle.
The outside of the concept automobile, known as the BMW iX Flow, can be changed into a variety of gray and white designs using electronic ink technology typically used in e-readers.
Stella Clarke, a BMW research engineer, noted that the use of E Ink technology made the color shift extremely energy-efficient. We took this substance, which is somewhat thick paper, and our task was to apply it to a 3D item like one of our cars.
The substance attracts various pigments to the surface when stimulated by electrical signals controlled by a phone app, giving the car a new color or pattern, like racing stripes.
In the future, Clarke predicted, the adjustments might potentially be managed by a button on the dashboard or even by hand gestures.
According to BMW, no energy is required to retain the driver’s chosen color.
The use of color to affect sunlight reflections is my favorite use case, according to Clarke. “You may change the color to white today to reflect the sun’s rays on a hot, sunny day. You may paint it black to absorb heat on a chilly day.”
Although the car on show at CES could only switch between gray and white, BMW claims that the technology will eventually be expanded to include a spectrum of colors.
BMW Unveils a Vehicle with Digital Color Changes
BMW, a German automaker, has unveiled a new model that lets users customize the color of their car.
The BMW iX Flow concept automobile was recently displayed at the CES technology expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. A concept car is a vehicle that has been built for testing but is still in development.
The company claims that electronic ink technology allows for the outside colors and patterns of the car to be changed. Electronic reading devices use the same technology, which BMW refers to as Electronic Paper Display.
The iX Flow model was demonstrated at CES and could switch from white to gray. Every panel of the car has a changeable surface. This opens up a variety of options for various color and pattern combinations all over the car. One option in the demonstration produced racing stripes.
According to BMW, the substance that makes the technology possible contains variously charged white, black, or colored particles. When an electrical field is active, many colors emerge. Controls inside the car or a phone can send signals to initiate the adjustments.
According to BMW research engineer Stella Clarke, “we took this material—kind it’s of a thick paper—and our difficulty was to get this onto a 3D object like our automobiles.”
The use of color to affect sunlight reflections is my favorite use case, according to Clarke. You may change the hue to white to reflect sunlight on a hot, sunny day like today, she said. “You could change it to black to absorb the heat on a cold day.”
The color options for the vehicle displayed at CES were limited to gray and white. However, the company claims that the technology will be enhanced to offer a variety of colors.
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Exists a BMW that can change colors?
The BMW iX Flow with E Ink is the first vehicle in the world with a button-activated external color change. “By altering the color of the car, we’re extending personalization to unanticipated heights,” project leader Stella Clarke stated. We also see a lot of advantages from a usability and sustainability standpoint, she continued.
By considering how light and dark colors will reflect sunlight and absorb thermal energy, the car’s color might change to increase efficiency. BMW clarified: “In comparison to a black surface, a white one reflects a lot more sunlight. By painting the exterior a light color, you can lessen the amount of heating that occurs inside the car due to intense sunshine and high temperatures. A black exterior will aid the car in absorbing substantially more heat from the sun in cooler climates. In both situations, subtle color changes can reduce the amount of cooling and heating the car’s air conditioner is necessary to provide. This lowers the amount of energy required by the car’s electrical system and, as a result, lowers the fuel or electricity consumption of the vehicle.”
Do BMW iX colors ever change?
CES is where the BMW iX Flow made its premiere this year. Since then, though, the color-changing BMW has been on exhibit all over the world, astounded by its technological prowess. The color-changing BMW iX Flow uses E Ink technology, which is not brand-new. It has long been a feature of gadgets like the Amazon Kindle, enabling us to read more and accomplish other chores. BMW covered the body with a foil encasing several million color capsules, a finish inspired by e-book readers. Electrical signals cause negatively charged black or positively charged white pigments to be stimulated, changing how the SUV appears.
The iX Flow features electrophoretic paint, which doesn’t require constant energy use like a display would. Instead, the E Ink only momentarily requires electricity when switching between finishes. Although it would require more engineering to make them function, there are other versions of this technology that give more color variation. BMW, however, claims that they are striving to advance this technology.
Therefore, it is obviously conceivable, but the second phase in Clarke’s method involves determining how to execute that on a wide scale and whether it is even beneficial. Making three cool prototypes was the first step, which Clarke and her team successfully completed.
What hues are available for the BMW iX?
Individual Aventurin Red metallic, Mineral White, Phytonic Blue, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect, and Black Sapphire Metallic are the five colors that are offered for the BMW iX.
To learn more about
How can I obtain colors from BMW Individual?
Your new BMW can be ordered through its Individual program in a wide range of stylish hues. Does the BMW M5 Competition’s normal seven-color palette not satisfy you? Make a call to Individual and choose one of the 90 hues it provides. Visit the “visualizer” page on the BMW Individual website to see all the colors. It has become your new go-to pass the time.
The visualizer is similar to BMW’s standard vehicle configurator, but with far more options. There are some excellent choices, such as the new M850i coupe, even though not every vehicle that BMW makes is offered here. View the Imola Red 8er down below. This was a widely-liked color for the E46 M3, and it suits the large coupe beautifully.
You might like an M4 Competition Package in Daytona Violet. This shade debuted on the E34 M5 and is offered for the E36 M3.
Last but not least, I wish BMW still offered a 5-Series wagon in the US after seeing this 540i Touring in British Racing Green.
I could spend the entire day thinking up new color combinations, as you can undoubtedly see, and if you’re not careful, so could you. When you have some free time, visit the BMW Individual visualizer.