BMW and Microsoft teamed up for this slick, smart new app that lets you know when to hit the road

The BMW 7 Series is already one of the highest-tech, sleekest cars you can buy.

Today, the 7 Series, and other models equipped with BMW ConnectedDrive, gets a little smarter with the launch of the new BMW Connected app for iPhone, debuted Thursday at the Microsoft Build conference.

With the BMW Connected app, you'll get an alert when it's time to hit the road, based on traffic. To start navigation, select where you're going on your phone, and it'll automatically start routing you when you get in the car. It'll even predict your next destination.

And, of course, it'll unlock your doors and vent your car of hot air.

BMW Connected will work with model year 2014 and newer BMW cars, except the 2014 X6. And you need to be a subscriber to BMW Assist/ConnectedDrive to take advantage.

Under the hood, the BMW Connected app uses the Microsoft Azure cloud to crunch all of your personal data and come up with smart recommendations that improve over time. It's a big step forward for Microsoft's connected car business.

Here's how it works.