Next-gen Mini debuts a 9.4-inch circular OLED display, supports the BMW AirConsole Gaming App

Mini has offered a sneak peak at the interior technology upgrades coming to its next-gen cars. The revitalized BMW-owned brand has been synonymous with retaining the heritage of its cars in both styling and overall driving characteristics while bringing the brand into the 2021 Century with modern features. The company shows now signs of slowing down in this direction, debuting its first all OLED central console. While recent iterations of this cluster had already dispensed with the all-analog approach of the past by using a rectangular LCD screen for part of the circular cluster, it’s the first time it has been completely turned into a digital panel – and it looks striking as a result.

Powering the display is an all-new operating system that Mini is calling the Operating System 9. Interestingly, it is built on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), with a view to following standard consumer electronics interfaces. Mini is calling the design language “Charismatic Theming” with static and dynamic elements made to integrate with the circular form factor of the OLED panel with its immersive 240mm diameter. Drivers will be able to enjoy up to eight Mini Experience Models that offer a dashboard UIs including Core, Go-Kart, Green, Balance, Vivid, Personal and Trail, each with a different look and feel to keep the driving experience fun and engaging.

Another signature feature that takes advantage of the 9.4-inch OLED display is the new AirConsole gaming feature, also being introduced across other BMW cars. Users connect their smartphones using a QR code shown on the display and then use them as controllers to play games on the large display, even in multiplayer. Simple to play games include Go-Kart Go, Golozo and Overcooked.Mini OS 9 also includes the Mini Intelligent Personal Assistant which can be summoned using the phrase “Hey Mini” or pressing the push-to-talk button. It is also visually accompanied on the OLED display by a stylized representation of the Mini logo or by Spike, a cute animated dog.

You can expect to see the new Mini technology package in the next-gen Minis debuting later this year.

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