21:15 14-11-2025

Inside BMW's Neue Klasse: physical buttons, Panoramic Vision, AI-driven design

BMW has shared fresh details on how design and digital tech will evolve in upcoming Neue Klasse models. At a gathering in California, design chief Adrian van Hooydonk and Designworks head Julia De Bono outlined key changes coming to the 2026 cars.

The company confirmed it will retain a selection of physical buttons in the cabin. Van Hooydonk emphasized that a complete move away from tactile controls is not on the agenda due to usability and safety. The Panoramic Vision interface will divide critical driving data from a dedicated area for user widgets.

Keeping some hard keys sounds like a sensible call: drivers still rely on muscle memory for frequent functions, and trimming back screen-diving usually cuts distraction.

BMW will also continue to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while preserving its own system that ties more deeply into electric-vehicle functions.

That dual-track approach should make life easier for longtime smartphone users without blurring the brand’s software direction.

Artificial intelligence gets special attention. BMW is using in-house AI models trained on designers’ styles. These tools speed up sketch work and the creation of 3D scenes, and, over time, will help engineering teams assess how complex certain shapes are to manufacture.

Applied this way, AI looks less like a party trick and more like a practical accelerator for development.

At the same time, the company does not plan to return to retro styling, favoring a modern approach with subtle nods to its heritage.

In essence, the Neue Klasse aims to feel cutting-edge without sacrificing everyday usability — and that balance is often where the best cars take shape.