Car news 10 January ’25: BMW’s Panoramic iDrive unveiled, Honda could spawn a Navara-based ute twin, and more 

---

Thanks for joining us this Friday January 11th 2025. Notably in car news today: BMW’s bold new Panoramic iDrive to roll out across all models by year’s end, Honda-Nissan allegiance could yield a Navara-based ute for the former marque, and more.

Browse this issue:

• BMW reveals Panoramic iDrive technology 
• Honda – Nissan merger could see a Honda inspired Navara
• Chery offers $6000 rebate on Omoda E5

BMW Panoramic iDrive debuts, widespread rollout to every model

• BMW has pulled the sheets off its radical new Panoramic iDrive concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in the US, showcasing a significant evolution of its interior technology philosophy. 

• Underpinning the system is a new Operating System X that BMW says is based on an “Android Open Source Project” like the old Operating System 9, if vastly more powerful, updatable  and forward/backward compatible to available technologies. It integrates a full-width black printed surface between the A-pillars as its point of difference to conventional media touchscreen designs.  

• The big party trick is the new 3D Head-Up Display presumably initially reserved for high-end variants that offers full-width viewing between both A-pillars with integrated (proper) virtual reality navigation advice.

• Rather than being some technical pipedream, BMW officially states that Panoramic iDrive and Operating System X will be rolled out across all models in the line-up by the end of 2025.
  

Honda targeting Patrol and Navara spin-off in Nissan merger

• Honda has revealed to media at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in the US that it favours tapping Nissan’s knowhow and portfolio to fill gaps in its own lineup as a shorter-term strategy in the proposed merger of the two Japanese carmakers.  

• Although commentary was centric to the North American market, US Honda executive Noriya Kaihara highlighted gaps in Honda’s US portfolio that could be filled neatly by repurposing Armada (Patrol) large SUV, as well as midsize Frontier (Navara) and Titan large pick-ups. 
  

• Needless to say, such a strategy between the two Japanese carmakers, at a global level, would have direct relevance to the Australian market given Navara and Patrol are two key models in Nissan’s line-up in segments not represented by Honda.

• As previously reported, Mitsubishi is also considering joining the Honda–Nissan merger, potentially broadening the resources available to Honda to either badge engineering (rebadging) or co-developing future models.
  

Chery Omoda E5 the latest EV to get a price chop  

• Chery has announced that it will trim the price of the Omoda E5 electric by $6000 in a “New Year bonus” to prospective buyers.

• The price reduction applies to all E5 variants. The entry BX version, previously $42,990 list, starts from $36,990 before on-roads, with Chery now claiming that mantle of offering the most affordable electric SUV model offered in Australia. 

• “A key focus for Chery in 2025 will be building our New Energy vehicle credentials, and this is just the beginning of an exciting year ahead, with several new model launches to come,” said Lewis Lu, CEO of Chery Australia.

• Chery states this deal is available from today, the 10th of January 2025, for (in their words) a limited time. Vehicles are available in showrooms to test drive now. .
  

The next issue of Car News Today will be published on Monday 13th January at 4.30pm Sydney time.