Overview

• With the 2026 iX3, BMW eliminates the rotary iDrive controller and signals the same approach for forthcoming Neue Klasse models.
• Operating System X links a windshield‑wide Panoramic display to haptic steering‑wheel controls whose keys illuminate only when functions are usable.
• Core functions shift to touch, with climate settings and even vent positioning handled on the central screen and few remaining physical buttons.
• BMW promotes voice interaction as a main control path, promising more natural exchanges through a large language model.
• Company representatives cite limited global uptake of the knob and ergonomic gains as reasons for the redesign, as reviewers flag usability concerns with capacitive inputs.