Look: We get our hands on the high-tech key of the all-new BMW 7-Series

Last week, we told you about the high-tech key of the all-new BMW 7-Series, called the BMW Display Key. Available as an option costing $250, the key features a full-color touchscreen display that allows you to choose different modes and options via swiping. It also shows you the door-locking status, the fuel range, and the climate control scheduling.

As it happens, we just had an encounter with said key. As you read this, our print associate editor Paulo Rafael Subido is in Portugal for the media test drive of the all-new 7-Series, and he has just sent us these photos. He himself is impressed with the BMW Display Key.

"I've never encountered anything as high-tech as this," Paulo wrote. "I've seen glass keys, but nothing with a touchscreen. With this, you can park the 7-Series automatically. There are a few driver functions as well."

Damn. What's next? A car key that also doubles as a mobile phone?

Photos by Paulo Rafael Subido