BMW Is One Step Closer To Selling You a Color-Changing Car (theverge.com)
- Reference: 0182465048
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/04/24/2055244/bmw-is-one-step-closer-to-selling-you-a-color-changing-car
- Source link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/918216/bmw-ix3-flow-edition-concept-car-2026-beijing-auto-show-e-ink-color-changing
> BMW's previous concepts wrapped the entire vehicle in a patchwork of E Ink panels that were all custom-sized and shaped to match its contours. It was an approach that wasn't practical for mass production, and one that wasn't very durable. The new BMW iX3 Flow Edition is potentially the most exciting of all of BMW's concepts as it embeds the E Ink Prism technology directly into the structure of the vehicle's hood panel, instead of just slapping it on top. The new approach has "undergone BMW's stringent quality testing" so that it meets the "requirements of automotive engineering and everyday use," according to a [3]release from E Ink .
>
> The BMW iX3 Flow Edition's color-changing capabilities are limited to its hood with eight different animations (which appear restricted to a grayscale palette) that can be changed by the driver at the push of a button. It's not exactly the color-changing car that BMW has been teasing for years and you still can't buy one, but by focusing on making this technology more practical and functional these vehicles are one step closer to moving past the concept phase.
[1] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/22/01/05/2331243/bmws-color-changing-car-concept-works-just-like-an-e-reader
[2] https://www.theverge.com/tech/918216/bmw-ix3-flow-edition-concept-car-2026-beijing-auto-show-e-ink-color-changing
[3] https://www.eink.com/news/detail/E-Ink-Prism-Featured-in-BMW-Series-Ready-BMW-iX3Flow-Edition-Unveiled-at-the-Beijing-Auto-Show-2026
Great idea... (Score:3)
Police hate this one neat trick...
Thank goodness! (Score:3)
Thanks, BMW, for concentrating on the important things. All those losers who want a cheap, reliable, energy-efficient means of getting from A to B have really been distorting the market all these years. Color-changing is obviously far more pressing than any of those things!
Re: (Score:2)
If you want a cheap car, you don't want a BMW, anyway. That's just not what they're doing.
Re: (Score:2)
> All those losers who want a cheap, reliable, energy-efficient means of getting from A to B
Maybe they do both?
No, they aren't (Score:3)
I'd never buy a Beemer - not even if it made me both young again and handsome for the first time. Even without this new anti-feature, I still see them as over-priced, pretentious rentware on wheels.
Re: (Score:1)
now tell us about being vegan and finding jesus while not even owning a tv
GTA style (Score:2)
Rob a bank, quick lick of paint... Rep back to zero.
Re: (Score:3)
Best option is to apply `{ color: transparent; }`
Bad Mannered Wankers (Score:2)
Now in a turd gold colour on demand.
Re: (Score:2)
.. and they change it to say LOOOOOOSER if you don't pay. First year's free though.
that BMW too much car for me (Score:2)
I rather have a 1972 VW beetle
Only comes in shit brown (Score:3)
If you want any other color than shit brown, it will be $1000/month for the single color package.
... so you can look like even more of a toolbox... (Score:2)
...driving around to places you don't really need to be.
Prior Art (Score:2)
Kate Kestrels Rolls from Terrahawks
How a BMW with signal lights (Score:2)
Ha ha ha
Gimmick (Score:2)
Meanwhile, my Tesla Model Y has been driving me from garage to any destination, parking spot to parking spot, 100% intervention free for the last year. It also has matrix headlights that a fucking amazing to watch I still can't get used to it .. when it sees another car or pedestrian in front it specifically dims the headlight only for that other car. Can see it in action especially on curves. [1]https://www.youtube.com/shorts... [youtube.com]
Does BMW have that?
[1] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TjUdoR5UUlk
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
BMW first introduced adaptive headlights in 2014.
Once again, Americans losing their mind over Tesla introducing features that were in European cars over a decade ago.
BMW will socialize the insurance costs we all pay. (Score:2)
Crash repair is completely disregarded by modern automotive designers because they don't want damaged vehicles returned to service. Mechanic of many decades here. All paint deteriorates so the more complex the coating the more difficult to correct for age.
That means more full paint jobs required which easily puts many vehicles "beyond economic repair".
Automakers know Americans given the choice between blowing a burning bobcat and and consumer protection would be covered in scratches and shit.
What could possibly go wrong? (Score:2)
We've all seen that car or truck with a random door or hood panel that's a different color from the rest of the car.
Now, picture an aging BMW with panels here and there no longer functioning, out of sync with the color of the rest of the car. Or worse, flashing haphazardly.
There is no way these panels will last as many years as the car itself.
Johnny Dangerously flashback (Score:2)
[1]https://youtu.be/C_oTubcqceI [youtu.be]
[1] https://youtu.be/C_oTubcqceI
Re: (Score:1)
I expect color changing cars will still get banned since that is a possibility.. even minor little crimes could be dodged if the cops are looking for the wrong color car and were not able to read a plate.
Re: (Score:2)
That only works if it can do duckies and bunnies.