tex2670

Angel eyes were gone for the G20 introduction, and were dying a slow death at the F30 LCI. Wood trim is one of the choices, along with aluminum.

JDR76

These were "spy shots" provided back in February and not the final version, so I am guessing that is why the shift lever is there in these photos.

LexBob2

Angel eyes had a good long run and they became iconic. It was time for an update though. I'm sure the decision to change them wasn't made lightly.

xjokerz

I don't know what it is exactly (maybe the colors on the screen add make this happen), but the texture in that wood adds to the look of the screen. It may be tacked on, but at least it's not sitting directly on top of the dash.

Just a shame they couldn't be bothered to make some hard buttons below. I guess that's another thing the auto journalists whined about, so BMW listened.

tex2670

Maybe so.

I actually like these DRLs better than what it was changed from.

JDR76

I'm not so sure. I read a lot of automotive publications and reviews and haven't seen any of them begging for fewer hard controls. The reviews I've been reading have largely been quite negative about this move to screen controls.

I think implementing controls into the screens is just a huge time and cost savings to the manufacturers. It makes it a lot easier for them to implement different options and configurations, and to customize and update without changing hardware. As an engineer myself, this all makes a lot of sense, and in fact I am doing some similar things in my own work right now. But in a car, I am not such a fan, even though I get it.

LexBob2

Same here. They're not bad at all.

arentz07

I felt the DRLs on the current G20 follow the lines on the front bumper a bit better, but then again, those lines are gone now.

tex2670

I'm not sure what automotive journals you read, but I have never ever never read any review of a BMW or any other car that promoted the idea of eliminating hard buttons. Not once; for many many years.

This is about the accountants.

xjokerz

They didn't like hard buttons in the Honda's, which is why they went to the disastrous 2-screen format in 2013.

dojoman

iTrader: (5)

Huge screen is very nice in person I test drove i4 twice can’t wait to get mine. And yes it comes with beaver teeth. I’ve had my 3IS for almost a decade beaver teeth don’t bother me.

tex2670

Maybe they didn't like Hondas that have 1000 buttons.

geko29

Yowza. My preference is for a thoughtful combination of hard buttons for common functions with the rest in the infotainment, much like the outgoing BMW design. But if forced to choose between the two extremes, I'll take all screen with few/no buttons over that monstrosity.

tex2670

Mid to late 2000s Acuras were even worse, especially on the steering wheel.

LexBob2

I see a couple of spots where they might have been able to squeeze a few more buttons in.