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BMW F11 5 Series Spotted Testing Next-Gen iDrive System

When the BMW G11 7 Series was leaked online without any kind of disguise, exactly as we were stepping into 2015, the cat finally went out of the proverbial hat. We were disappointed a bit of the design but it is the technology that lies within the upcoming flagship that should impress us the most.
F11 5 Series with next-gen iDrive 4 photos
Photo: Bimmertoday
F11 5 Series with next-gen iDriveF11 5 Series with next-gen iDriveF11 5 Series with next-gen iDrive
A big part of all that will surely be the upcoming iDrive system that we already saw BMW testing on its prototypes. Rumor has it that it will be featuring touch-sensitive surfaces and that it will have more than one screen throughout the car as well as gesture recognition.

It all sounds very exciting but do take it in with a grain of salt, as the end product might have its own limitations. However, until we actually get to see it in real-life a couple of things might change.

This kind of technology will ultimately trickle down to less expensive modes and the first in line to get it will be the future G30 5 Series that will be launched somewhere near 2017.

Using the same kind of lightweight materials, the new 5er will also get a drastic weight reduction program along with these new tidbits. Proof in this regard are a couple of photos published by German magazine, BimmerToday, of a current F10 5 Series testing the touch-sensitive iDrive system we've seen on the 7 Series prototypes.

The screen is obviously different and seems out of place, not to mention the two wires that seem to be going somewhere under the dash. Yes, these are all signs that BMW is already testing the new generation infotainment on the 5 Series.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean that they will be identical. Instead, BMW could opt to leave out the gesture recognition option for the 5er, offering the new system without it at first. For now, it's all supposition but we should get more info in the near future regarding this matter.
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