Germany – Car-maker BMW is set to launch its new ConnectedRide Smartglasses, designed to enhance safety and provide real-time data projection for motorcyclists. The goggles feature head-up display technology and allow riders to access information such as gear, speed and navigation data directly in their field of vision without the need for display panels.

Scheduled for release in the US by the end of 2023, the glasses are said to offer motorcyclists a safer and more efficient journey, enabling them to anticipate road conditions. They are designed to fit various helmets and boast a lithium-ion battery providing up to 10 hours of use at temperatures ranging from –14 to +122°F. Bluetooth connectivity also allows seamless integration with smartphones and a corresponding app enables pre-ride settings.

BMW Motorrad will offer two sets of certified UVA/UVB lenses with an anthracite frame, and for those with prescription glasses, opticians can use an RX adapter to adjust lenses to the required visual acuity.

BMW’s venture into wearable technology demonstrates the firm’s commitment to advancing vehicular technology while also showcasing how the automotive sector is drawing from virtual platforms and extended reality, a trend we revealed in Auto Entertainment.

Global – In its Global Fashion & Luxury Private Equity and Investors Survey 2023, released in June 2023, consulting firm Deloitte confirms a rise in investor interest in luxury experiences. Nearly half of the investors surveyed (49%) said they believe that hotels and restaurants will be the fastest-growing sectors in 2023. Compared to luxury apparel and accessories, watches and jewellery, cosmetics and fragrances, cars and private jets, the hotel industry saw the most growth in 2022 year on year, according to the survey. Investors suggest the best-expected performance for the next three years will come from hotels, with most stating that they believe the industry will grow by more than 10% per year.

When asked about the sectors hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic and their projected recovery and growth for this year, 28% of participants said they believed that hotels would experience the quickest recovery, closely followed by restaurants, which were chosen by 21% of respondents. Surprisingly, cruises secured the third position, with 7% of those surveyed anticipating significant growth in 2023. This highlights an intriguing trend in which experiential luxury has surpassed the performance of luxury goods in the past year and is expected to maintain its flourishing trajectory in the future.

In our viewpoint report with author and analyst Erwan Rambourg, we previously highlighted how the future of luxury lies in escapism, with luxury groups diversifying into the travel and health categories.