BMW’s first 'color-changing' concept car is here—and the tech could be used in everything from e-readers to smartwatches

What if the colour of your car could alteration based connected your temper oregon the weather?

That's the thought — or, astatine least, 1 of the ideas— down BMW's caller "i Vision Dee" conception car, a midsize electrical sports sedan covered successful futuristic panels that tin alteration colour connected demand.

BMW describes it arsenic the world's archetypal "color-changing" car. The Dee, which stands for "Digital Emotional Experience," tin rhythm betwixt 32 antithetic colors, the institution said successful a property merchandise connected Thursday, portion unveiling the car astatine the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show successful Las Vegas.

The car tin rhythm betwixt 32 antithetic coagulated exterior colors, with mix-and-match capabilities owed to its 240 antithetic sheet segments. That's a important leap past BMW's earlier iteration showcased past year, which could lone alternate betwixt black, achromatic and gray.

As with immoderate conception vehicle, the exertion down the Dee's color-changing capabilities is apt years distant from user availability. Exposure to the elements successful day-to-day driving — from car washes to flying insects — keeps the high-tech panels from performing successful the existent world, The Verge noted Thursday.

For BMW, the car is meant arsenic a glimpse of what could yet beryllium a overmuch much colorful future. "This allows an astir infinite assortment of patterns to beryllium generated and varied wrong seconds," the institution said successful its property release, which described the airy amusement arsenic a "magical show of color."

The Dee's outer tegument is simply a movie made of physics insubstantial built by a startup called E Ink, which besides makes show tech for e-readers and mobile phones. The coating segments incorporate millions of tiny microcapsules with antithetic colour pigments that alteration shades erstwhile energy is applied.

The physics coating is "ultra-low power," truthful changing the car's colors won't drain the electrical vehicle's battery, E Ink said successful its ain press release connected Thursday.

E Ink besides said it's capable to manufacture its panels successful immoderate signifier imaginable — perchance starring to applications similar e-reader screens that mimic the look of existent insubstantial oregon much energy-efficient integer signs and smartwatch displays.

BMW hasn't released specs for the Dee's motor oregon battery, but says the conception car is additionally loaded with futuristic hardware and bundle that'll beryllium disposable successful cars connected the roadworthy by 2025.

That includes BMW's Head-Up display, a integer dashboard that spans the full width of the windshield. It besides features a Mixed Reality Slider, a touchscreen that allows you to power however overmuch integer contented is displayed connected that dashboard, from driving velocity and artillery scope to euphony controls and substance messages.