BMW pioneers Head-Up Display technology

"The Head-Up Display allows the driver to access vital information twice as fast and almost completely eliminates the need to keep looking down at the instrument panel," said Mr Naim Majdalani, Director of Sales for Alfardan Automobiles - the exclusive importers of BMW in Qatar.

The Head-Up Display uses a projector positioned behind the dashboard along with a complex system of mirrors to produce an optical effect, making a virtual image appear just above the bonnet, about 2 metres away from the driver. This means that the driver no longer has to keep switching between close-range and distance viewing to keep an eye on the instrument panel.

The iDrive controller can be used to select the information that is displayed on the Head-Up display. The driver can choose to view vehicle speed, navigation directions, Check Control alerts, preferred cruising speeds and the distance to be maintained to the vehicle ahead.

Elaborating on the importance of the technology, Mr. Majdalani explained, "Every time you glance at the instrument panel, you're driving blind, without direct sight of the road ahead. At 150 km/h, a single glance would mean you drive 55 meters without watching the road."

The Head-up display undoubtedly goes a long way in keeping the road at the centre of the driver's attention at all times, allowing the driver to concentrate on the surrounding traffic.
To ensure that the Head-Up Display remains visible without becoming a nuisance, the system calibrates the brightness of the display based on the ambient light conditions.

"The system is easy to read at night, as well as on bright, sunny days so typical in Qatar," Mr. Majdalani assured.

Along with a slew of other innovations, the Head-Up Display goes a long way in making modern BMWs among the safest vehicles on the road today.