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BMW Unveils iX3 Flow With Integrated E Ink Hood at Beijing Auto Show

Claims of automotive-grade durability signal the color-shifting surface is moving from showpiece to a part engineers can build.

Overview

  • BMW showed the iX3 Flow Edition concept Friday in Beijing with a hood that uses E Ink to run eight grayscale animations controlled by a button.
  • BMW says the setup is ready for series production, and E Ink says it passed BMW’s quality tests for everyday automotive use.
  • The panel is built into the hood as one unit, replacing earlier patchwork wraps made of many custom tiles that proved hard to make and less durable.
  • The company pitches real uses, including clearer markings for ambulances and cooling dark body panels in summer by switching to lighter shades.
  • The concept rides on the standard-wheelbase iX3 not slated for China, as a long-wheelbase version is planned for China and earmarked for markets like India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.