2022 BMW iX Flow: The electric SUV that changes colour

The new BMW iX Flow concept can change colour at the push of a button – and the design team behind it believes similar tech could soon become mainstream.

Unveiled earlier this week at the international 2022 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the electric SUV is fitted with a thin exterior film with a similar structure to the screen of a Kindle e-book reader.

An electric current brings selected pigments to the surface, causing the body to take on a desired hue.

While the example on display in Nevada toggles between glossy black and white, BMW claims any colour combination is possible.

So, what's the point?

"This gives the driver the freedom to express different facets of their personality or even their enjoyment of change outwardly, and to redefine this each time they sit into their car," said Stella Clarke, the British-Australian engineer at the helm of the concept's development.

"Similar to fashion or the status ads on social media channels, the vehicle then becomes an expression of different moods and circumstances in daily life."

However, colour variation isn't all about vanity – it can, BMW claims, also improve electric efficiency by regulating temperature.

"A white surface reflects a lot more sunlight than a black one – by implication, heating of the vehicle and passenger compartment as a result of strong sunlight and high outside temperatures can be reduced by changing the exterior to a light colour," the German manufacturer said in an official statement.

"In cooler weather, a dark outer skin will help the vehicle to absorb noticeably more warmth from the sun. In both cases, selective colour changes can help to cut the amount of cooling and heating required from the vehicle's air conditioning.

Essentially, the designers are saying efficiency – and therefore battery range – could be improved with this feature.

In 2017, BMW-owned marque Mini developed its own colour-shifting concept, while the original 1998 Smart ForTwo micro car featured interchangeable plastic panels which could be swapped out for a new look in approximately two hours.