The Welcome Light Carpet System Adds A Stylish Touch To The New BMW 7 Series

BMW’s commitment to both engineering excellence and providing their customers with unique, premium accents has led to continuous innovation in the field of driver-automobile interaction.  Historically, this focus has been concerned with making steady improvements to the features of a car that the driver touches while in the cockpit, such as the steering column, dashboard controls, and center console, however the wireless revolution now means that BMW owners can enjoy a response from their vehicle even while they’re still approaching it.  The new Welcome Light Carpet feature, which is available on the new BMW7 Series, is one such development, as it uses a series of microprojectors to create a clearly lit pathway between the driver and car.

While a basic light would have been simple enough to develop, BMW wanted a system that was both refined and able to withstand regular road use.  For this reason, they consulted the optical experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering in Munich, Germany on the design of the Welcome Light Carpet.  The design the team developed jointly involves 150 microprojectors that are arranged in a honeycomb structure within the sill of the BMW 7 Series’ body, just beneath the driver and passenger doors.  Through the use of specially-developed microoptic lenses, the projectors are not only able to emit light that moves out and away from the doors, but also bend it at sharp, cleanly-cut angles toward the approaching driver or passenger.  The overall effect is one of nine distinctly-defined, soft white lines that retain their focus and consistency across 43 square feet of surface.  Because the microprojectors are both protected from road debris by the front wheels and numerous enough to not lose noticeable effectiveness when covered with realistic levels of dirt, they maintain a sharp and impressive look in any condition.

While the primary function of the Welcome Light Carpet feature is to enhance the driver’s experience by creating a familiar and sophisticated atmosphere during vehicle approach, it actually has several practical and safety-enhancing aspects.  The most obvious of these is that the driver and passenger can see if the ground next to their BMW 7 Series is uneven or cluttered with hazards such as potholes or loose items.  Because the Welcome Light Carpet projects as nine distinct bands of even white light, the depth and size of such obstacles becomes apparent due to the creation of a lined contour effect on the road below.

Though the BMW 7 Series is as distinct looking as it is well-crafted, even the best automobiles can be hard to find at night in the large parking lots that are usually found at sports stadiums or museums.  Since it illuminates a large area, the Welcome Light Carpet can help drivers locate their automobile is such crowded conditions.

Ultimately, the Welcome Light Carpet system is just one of many advanced ergonomic technologies that are incorporated into the BMW 7 Series, as BMW Gesture Control makes operating multiple vehicle functions while driving as easy as a wave of the hand and Remote Control Parking enables the driver to exit their car and both steer and park it externally.  Though the RCP feature may seem like something out of a big-budget spy movie, it actually makes finding and getting into the narrow spots that are often found in densely populated, upscale urban neighborhoods much less taxing.

As BMW of Elmhurst carries the latest BMW models in all available trims, drivers who are interested in premium automobiles that feature the latest technologies, including the Welcome Light Carpet and Remote Control Parking systems, should feel free to contact our sales professionals at (844) 671-0006.  They’re also always welcome to visit our showroom at 466 West Lake Street in Elmhurst to view the entire BMW model lineup, including the BMW 7 Series, in person.