Theater screen: BMW transforms the car into a cinema with a 31 “display and a Fire TV

Among future luxury-class models, BMW wants to offer a theatrical screen, a large 31-inch screen with resolution of up to 8K, the new entertainment for the rear. The display is placed on the headliner and, if necessary, is extended in cinematic mode that comes with Hans Zimmer music. Amazon Fire TV is also integrated.

BMW is using CES 2022 as a showcase for future technologies in the automotive segment. However, the theater screen is not a study but is to be offered in the next generation luxury class from BMW. Available in the new 7 Series and electric, BMW wants to offer a mobile cinema, although the car manufacturer has not yet given the name of the model. However, the editorial board was able to sit in front of the theatrical screen in Munich and despite the detailed camouflage, the base car was easy to identify as a 7-row.

Only when display is required

End of regular screens mounted on the back of the front seats. “Ugly“The doctor named this previous solution. Tarek Jackie, project and partner lead for Rear Seat Entertainment at BMW, in an interview before the show.

Hans Zimmer switched to cinematic mode

When the time comes, BMW will almost certainly celebrate switching to cinema mode. After activating “My Theater Mode”, the display rotates through two hinged side rails outside the headliner, with a 31-inch diagonal in front of rear-seated passengers. At the same time, the sun blinds on the side windows and rear windows are closed and the ambient lights in the rear of the vehicle are dimmed. The perfect background music is provided by Hans Zimmer, who is also responsible for the electric driving sounds at BMW. The sound sequence ends exactly when the screen has taken its final position. However, the viewer can adjust the angle of the screen according to the seating position. Related buttons can be found on the edge of the screen so they can be easily reached from both the seats.

8K resolution 32: 9 format

The 31-inch or approximately 79 cm diagonal is recorded in front of passengers with a particularly wide 32: 9 format with elongated 8K resolution. BMW talks about 8,000 × 2,000 pixels, but fails to provide details on the panel. However, when the LCD with OLED or mini LED backlight was first used in Munich, the black film areas did not appear dark enough. However, it was interesting to have such a big screen in front of you.

Fire TV delivers content

Many pixels need to be filled with relevant, high-definition content that is also known from smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. However, the company’s own BMW OS 8, iX, i4 and the new 2 Series Active Tourer are used, for example, there are no applications for Disney +, Netflix or Prime Video. Many of the apps known from this Amazon operating system are integrated into the Fire TV Theater screen so that they can be used in the car. While in Munich, Amazon did not want to comment on whether there would be games, office applications and the Silk Browser. The connection to the services is via 5G, which will be used in more and more series after iX and i4.

Touch the panels on the doors

It can be operated either directly by touching the screen or by BMW integrated two touch panels on the rear door panels. In BMW’s future luxury class, there will be a smartphone-like display on the back of every door. Users can also set the screen aspect ratio to be displayed, i.e. 16: 9, 21: 9 or full width 32: 9, which will inevitably lead to a sculpted image. Movies and series are in Surround, with Powers & Wilkins providing the cinematic sound experience through the “Diamond Surround Sound System”.

ComputerBase received information about this item from BMW during an event organized by the manufacturer near Munich under the NDA. BMW accepted the cost of going to and from the site. No influence on the part of the manufacturer or obligation to report.