BMW is one step closer to selling you a color-changing car

Previous BMW concepts covered the entire car in a patchwork of E Ink panels that were all a custom size and shape to match its contours. This was an approach that was not practical for mass production, nor was it sustainable. The new BMW iX3 Flow Edition is probably the most exciting of all BMW concepts because it integrates E Ink Prism technology directly into the hood panel structure, rather than just placing it on top. The new approach “has been subjected to stringent quality tests conducted by BMW” so that it meets “the requirements of automotive engineering and daily use,” according to a BMW report. E-ink release.

The color-changing capabilities of the BMW iX3 Flow Edition are limited to the bonnet with eight different animations (which appear to be restricted to a greyscale palette) that the driver can change at the push of a button. It’s not exactly the color-changing car that BMW has been teasing for years and you still can’t afford one, but by focusing on making this technology more functional and practical, these vehicles are one step closer to moving beyond the concept stage.