[Jason]

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BMW to present concept at CES showcasing OLED and intelligent laserlight technology

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BMW Press Release: BMW innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015

Intelligent Laserlight and OLED technology point the way to the future.

Munich/Las Vegas- January 2, 2015... At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 January 2015, BMW presents a concept vehicle that showcases the kind of lighting innovations we can expect in the future, while at the same time reinforcing its leadership position in the field of lighting technology.

BMW Laserlight becomes intelligent thanks to connectivity.
The Laserlight technology that made its production car debut in the BMW i8sets benchmarks in terms of range and intensity. At up to 600 metres, the range of BMW laser lighting is more than twice that of conventional headlights. At the CES, BMW Laserlight now displays its credentials as an intelligent lighting system thanks to being linked up to cameras, sensors and driver assistance systems, opening up the prospect of numerous new functions in the future.

OLED technology for the rear lights opens up new possibilities.
BMW already presented tail lights featuring OLED technology with its BMW Vision Future Luxury concept unveiled in 2014. By contrast with LEDs, which are a point light source, OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) generate a uniform light across their entire surface. The elements are very thin at just 1.4 millimetres in thickness. This allows individual modules to be activated separately and opens up new possibilities for the design of rear lights. In presenting its BMW Organic Light with OLED technology in Las Vegas, BMW reveals an impressive glimpse of the potential offered by this innovative technology.

BIMMERPOST addendum on OLED lighting

In early 2014, BIMMERPOST attended a BMW lighting workshop (read full report) where we were given the first close preview of upcoming OLED lighting technology. This is what we reported at the time:

Organic LED (OLED): This is the new cutting edge in lighting. OLEDs are made from organic semiconductor material and allow the designers much more freedom in their designs. Compared to the inorganic material already used in LEDs in standard production vehicles, the application of OLEDS in BMW Organic Light promises a range of benefits. Because of the design as a thin-layered element, for example, it is possible to produce very thin, flexible displays for smartphones or even lighting units for motor vehicles.

BMW Organic Light permits a lamp unit to be created whose luminous intensity is almost constant across the entire radiant angle (does not suffer from the LED effect where LED lamps seem less bright to the eye the more it is seen from the side).

BMW says this technology is only three years away from being used in a production car. It's clearly not far from production as they had working OLED tail light units on hand (see pics below). Not only do OLED look great but it uses very little power/energy. They can also serve as active tail lights - the intensity can change as well as the light pattern. Even different colors are possible (the mock up models that were shown to us were only in red OLEDs). We did get to see a BMW touring bike with yellow turn signals and red brake light. This OLED technology is not so close to production for motorcycles - yet. We will first see it on a BMW car before the bikes get them.

BMW is still working on improving the luminous density of the OLEDs. While it's currently adequate for tail lights, lighting elements like the brake light or indicator need reinforcing.

BMW Light Workshop - OLED lighting

These lighting innovations will be featured in addition to BMW's showcasing of its 360-degree collision avoidance and fully-automated parking in multi-storey car parks technology (more info).

[EzequielR]

this is awesome! I can't wait to actually see them on cars.

[onatuesday]

all this technology and BMW can't include LED rear lights in the 2015 F8X?

[Zirenz2006]

yet 3 series still has incandescent blinkers in 2015

[Ganxxta]

Originally Posted by trinim3

all this technology and BMW can't include LED rear lights in the 2015 F8X?

[Agni]

Originally Posted by Ganxxta

They save it for the LCI, happens every generation. Pisses me off.

Its like if Apple removed retina display for each new iPhone model and then re-adds it for the subsequent 's' models.

[BhamDavid]

CES would be a great time to make an announcement on CarPlay. What about it BMW?

[wdeerfield]

all this and yet comfort access isnt a standard feature.

[iamdabest1]

All this awesomeness and they couldn't make the upcoming 7 series look better ?? I'm still disappointed ,in fact the head designer should be hung from his useless fingers .. Chris bangle was way better ...

[iamdabest1]

Speaking of which , why the hell does bmw always go backwards with the whole lci thing ??

[Lister]

I already have an OLED display from BMW in my F80. It's the small multifunction display in the middle of my M Performance Race Wheel II. Just saying.

[Zadjali]

Lot of concepts with amazing exterior designs and nothing to production line!

[BMW269]

So Audi was "criticized" for focusing on "Christmas"-LEDs and rather than on handling, and that for BMW handling and those aspects are more important than LED-bling, and now BMW does the same and it is a good thing. Audi A3 has full-LED everything, but the 2 Series not, not even the X4 that costs € 70K.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by iamdabest1

Speaking of which , why the hell does bmw always go backwards with the whole lci thing ??

Money.

[Frenk]

Only on LCIs models

[Blackraven]

BMW Laserlight will be a confirmed feature on the upcoming 7 series (G11/G12) as shown in the leaked spyshots. Could probably be an added cost option (as an upgrade from 'conventional LED front lamps' aka Option 552).

As for OLED tail lamps, I wonder if BMW is ready to deploy it. If not, then we can give them some time....

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Nice technology but this is an example why so many consumer electronics professionals like myself don't attend CES any longer. The show has transitioned away from a place to conduct consumer electronics business, and has become just a place to display technology whether it's related to consumer electronics products or not.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by iamdabest1

All this awesomeness and they couldn't make the upcoming 7 series look better ?? I'm still disappointed ,in fact the head designer should be hung from his useless fingers .. Chris bangle was way better ...

Well, what's strange about this is that BMWs current head of design is Adrian Van Hooydonk.

The E65 was drawn and submitted by........Adrian Van Hooydonk when he worked for the design team then headed by Chris Bangle.

[DeeKay]

Originally Posted by BhamDavid

CES would be a great time to make an announcement on CarPlay. What about it BMW?

With easy cheap retrofit possible please!!

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by trinim3

all this technology and BMW can't include LED rear lights in the 2015 F8X?

+1

[tlp]

So the new playbook for future platforms will be LED as standard and then OLED when the LCI arrives.

[Ganxxta]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

Well, what's strange about this is that BMWs current head of design is Adrian Van Hooydonk.

The E65 was drawn and submitted by........Adrian Van Hooydonk when he worked for the design team then headed by Chris Bangle.

According to some interviews van Hooydonk gave at the presentation of the 4 series, he was mostly responsible for its design, did he also say something like this for the new 7?

As you said, the might e someone "under" him who has designed the new 7 series (badly).