The German car manufacturer develops new cars with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4.
Photo credit: BMW
BMW has revealed that an unlikely collaboration with gaming giants Epic Games played a major role in the development of their latest model.
The BMW iX, an all-electric SUV aiming to roll out in 2021, was designed in part with the use of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4. This is the game engine in which Assetto Corsa Competizione was created. By effectively creating their own simulator, BMW was able to save both time and money in the development of the new car.
Another advantage of BMW’s foray into vehicular simulation is the fact that the iX could be tested remotely. This enabled developers far and wide to provide valuable feedback on the new model. The ability to gather input from remote sources has only risen in significance in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Ultimate Rig?
But that’s not all! BMW even went so far as to design what is, in effect, a four-seater luxury sim-rig. This rig allows for the virtual reality driving to be complemented by the genuine reality of the car’s interior.
This made the in-house testers’ experience more immersive. They were therefore able to provide more useful feedback to aid the car’s development.
Onwards and Upwards!
According to BMW themselves, they have now created the “most advanced and diversified simulation centre in the automotive industry.” In simple English: they have 14 simulators in which up to 100 people per day can test their latest projects.
This all means that BMW is perfectly placed to gather unprecedented levels of feedback about their upcoming models. In theory, this should greatly benefit the quality and user-friendliness of upcoming BMW models.
Is this going to be the future standard for designing cars? Tell us on Twitter at @overtake_gg!
