A teaser image of the backside of the iNexts infotainment screen, as seen through the windshieldBMW The days of in-dash screens and instrument clusters may well be numbered. BMW has released teaser photos of a curved, fully-digital screen that will debut in the iNext in two years. The iNext, which BMW calls its “new technology flagship,” will be electric, completely connected and capable of high-level autonomous driving. The screen is called the Curved Display (nothing like being direct with names) and is a single unit that contains all the car’s information and control display areas. BMW didn’t reveal exactly how large it is, but the picture looks like it takes up a substantial swath of the dash. It’s customizable so the driver will have the right information at the right time, and is touch-activated. It uses non-reflecting glass, so there’s no need for a hood to shade it. The front-seat passenger will be able to see the screen and activate controls on it, but it’s possible to move individual items directly into the driver’s direct line of sight where passengers can’t see them—and we’re seeing all sorts of possibilities with that one. (“No, dear, I’m not speeding, trust me…”) The screen is held in with a very slim magnesium bracket and is positioned so people in the car can’t see how it’s attached, giving it a floating look. The iNext crossover will go into production for 2021, and will be built in BMW’s plant in Dingolfing,
Origin: BMW teases upcoming iNext’s curved, ‘floating’ infotainment touchscreen
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McLaren teases new ‘GT,’ to be fully revealed May 15
McLaren’s next offering will be simply called the GT, and the marque is billing it as a more usable, practical supercar, with extra trunk space and cabin room, it said early May. Slotted in between McLaren’s Sport and Super series, the GT will be a less-intense version of the 720S, but still deliver considerable performance. The exterior design will be lightly based on an evolution of the new Speedtail, which could mean more flexible rear body panels. The headlights are a strange departure from the usual boomerang-shaped units of the past, but that falls in line with the brand’s #newrules. From the company’s teaser video we can see the silhouette of the new vehicle; the rear end is definitely higher than a standard McLaren supercar, apparently to offer more storage space underneath a liftback hatch. McLaren drove the car on a 1,600-km journey from Spain to the United Kingdom to test its worthiness as a true grand tourer, and we’re guessing it did not do too badly. Inside the vehicle will be a standard two-seat arrangement, despite the fact it’s inspired by the Speedtail (which has three seats). McLaren wants the GT to be more useful, so it would make sense for the company to omit the Show and Display Only penalty that comes with owning a sports car with the driver’s seat in the centre. Underneath your luggage will likely be McLaren’s trusty 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, making somewhere around 710 horsepower as it does in the 720S. The GT will be fully revealed on May 15, when we’ll get a better idea of how McLaren travels in
Origin: McLaren teases new ‘GT,’ to be fully revealed May 15
BMW teases its upcoming 8 Series Gran Coupe
BMW released a teaser image early May of a sleek four-door sedan it calls a Gran Coupe, based on the brand-new 8 Series. The teaser image shows us—not much. That would be why they call it a teaser. However, BMW is more comfortable showing off a little bit more sheet metal than other brands, as we can see the entire outline of the vehicle, as well as the cutlines for the added rear doors. Call us crazy, but this is a handsome looking car, isn’t it? The standard 8 Series has a smaller greenhouse, which makes the sides of the car look larger, but this version appears to fix that problem and give the car better proportions. The fascia and rear end are expected to be the same as the two-door’s. Under the hood of the 8 Series Gran Coupe will most likely be the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the standard M850i coupe, which produces a healthy 523 horsepower and 533 lb.-ft. of torque. BMW could release less powerful engine options for the 8 Series, which will likely make their debut on the Gran Coupe. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic will come standard. The model will be fully revealed at the BMW Welt event in Munich between June 25 and 27, and will go on sale officially come September. Canadian pricing has not been announced, but we expect it will be a few dollars more than the coupe, which is priced at
Origin: BMW teases its upcoming 8 Series Gran Coupe
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