BMW has surprised attendees at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas with the unveiling of the i Vision Dee, a futuristic sedan concept that aims to provide a Digital Emotional Experience (DEE, hence the name). The study showcases both the design and the technologies to be found in BMW’s future electric sedans including a 3-Series sized model that will be built around the brand’s Neue Klasse electric architecture and may very well end up being called the i3, a moniker that is currently used for the China-market exclusive, electric 3-Series with a stretched wheelbase.

The German car manufacturer’s latest concept has an exterior that has been pared down to focus attention on the digital experience that it provides. It adopts a three-box sedan shape and features a number of characteristic BMW design elements that have been revised, including the kidney grille, twin circular headlights, and the Hofmeister kink. BMW fans will no doubt find a variety of retro styling cues ranging from the iconic 2002 as we can see in the car’s proportions, to 1980s and 1990s models like the E31 8-Series and even the classic M1 from the late 70s. Perhaps the least BMW-ish part of the design is the rather simplistic rear-end with taillights that remind us of Peugeot models.

 

This simple design philosophy continues into the cabin of the car where there is an intriguing steering wheel with a central vertical spoke with touchpoints that can be operated by moving the thumb. BMW says the cabin has been designed in such a way as to “ensure nothing distracts from the digital experience and the new feeling of enhanced driving pleasure.” An innovative new Head-Up Display has debuted on the i Vision Dee. It projects across the entire width of the windshield and previews a full-width Head-Up display that will be used by BMW models based on its Neue Klasse platform from 2025 onwards.

An intriguing ‘Mixed Reality Slider’ is also present. It uses shy-tech sensors on the instrument panel to allow drivers to decide how much information they want to see on the Head-Up Display. Dimmable windows have also been fitted.

 

BMW has also implemented the latest iteration of its E Ink technology. First showcased on an iX presented at CES 2022 in black and white, this new version of E Ink is colored and allows for a fully variable and individually configurable exterior color. It can display up to 32 colors with the surface of the i Vision Dee divided into 240 distinct segments.