BMW has taken another significant step toward bringing color-changing cars to the market with its latest concept, the BMW iX3 Flow Edition, unveiled at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. While earlier concepts focused on wrapping the entire vehicle in custom E Ink panels, this new model integrates the technology directly into the structure of the hood, making it more practical for mass production.
Evolution of BMW's Color-Changing Concepts
At CES 2022, BMW introduced the iX Flow concept, which used grayscale E Ink panels similar to those found in e-readers like the Kindle to dynamically alter the car's appearance. This was followed by the i Vision Dee and i5 Flow Nostokana concepts, both upgraded with color E Ink panels. However, these earlier designs involved a patchwork of custom-sized and shaped panels that were neither durable nor suitable for large-scale manufacturing.
New Approach with the iX3 Flow Edition
The BMW iX3 Flow Edition adopts a more practical approach by embedding E Ink Prism technology directly into the hood panel, rather than applying it as a wrap. According to a release from E Ink, this new method has undergone BMW's stringent quality testing to meet the requirements of automotive engineering and everyday use. The result is a more durable and easier-to-manufacture solution.
While the color-changing capabilities are limited to the hood and offer eight different animations in a grayscale palette, the driver can switch between them with the push of a button. Although this is not the fully color-changing car BMW has teased for years, and it remains a concept, the focus on practicality brings these vehicles closer to production reality.
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