BMW has introduced Virtual Reality into its vehicle development process courtesy of the HTC Vive headset.

Going forward, all draft designs will be tested as 3D models – with employees sat in the virtual driving seat as the car drives through a simulated city – before being approved.

This isnt the first time the manufacturer has tried VR – its actually been using the technology since the 1990s – but the availability of consumer-grade headsets has made it possible to adopt the technology more broadly.

“VR investigations could previously only be conducted at costly specialised facilities. By incorporating consumer electronics, the developers gain an unprecedented degree of flexibility, because any modifications can be implemented and tested very quickly,” BMW explained in its announcement.

The Vive isnt the only bit of gaming kit involved in these tests – the cars are rendered in graphic engine Unreal Engine 4, and powered on high-end gaming computers.