The BMW Z9, which makes its US debut at the New York International Auto Show in late April, has all the flashy tech and ultra styling you'd expect in a concept car. The sports coupe introduces neon taillights and a James Bondian double-door system - a conventional door opens to the front seats, or the entire side panel gull-wings upward to let four passengers dog-pile in. More important, the car offers a glimpse into the near future of BMW's human/machine interface. The dial speedometer and tach remain behind the wheel, while the GPS, entertainment functions, and other settings move to a central panel controlled by a push button. There are roughly 700 functions running in cars today, says design chief Chris Bangle, and that number will only increase. "Some companies want to turn cars into offices," he says. "Our challenge is to help people manage information flow in a way that doesn't diminish the thrill of driving."
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