CONNECTIVITY

First off, the iDrive system is brilliant. It’s instant. Unlike many in-car entertainment systems there’s no delay between input and response. The new 5 series tech package also offers Apple Carplay without wires via Bluetooth – the first car to do so. But to really unlock the car’s box of tricks you have to get an app, BMW Connected. You can sync your Office 365 calendar to the car’s database and it’ll tell you when to leave to make a 9am meeting. But here’s the real showstopper. If you lose your car in the car park, the app will get the car to scan its environment, using the radar and cameras used for self-parking, to create a picture of its surroundings. Luckily a bright yellow van had pulled up alongside the car, so from there it was easy to spot. Yes, it’s a bit frivolous, but the idea is an astonishing way to pull together the tech that’s already in the car.