The BMW Vision Driving Experience has been introduced as a concept to show the intelligent systems that will soon be featured in the production electric 3 Series (likely to be named the i3), the next-gen M3, and well into the lineup of Neue Klasse.
Of course, the Vision Driving Experience concept will not be shown to the public before releasing the production units, but rest assured, the technologies showcased will help retain the world-famous driving dynamics that this automaker is known for.
BMW Vision Driving Experience: Novel Technologies
Described as "a rolling test rig for drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology," the Vision Driving Experience concept is, according to BMW, one of an array of new systems that include perhaps the most important; an electronic control unit called the “Heart of Joy” that supervises the critical functions of the car including the drivetrain, braking, charging, regeneration, and steering.
The Heart of Joy will work with BMW's Dynamic Performance Control software while processing data 10 times faster than previous ECUs of the company, with latencies claimed to be in the milliseconds.
Heart of Joy is one of four central elements in the concept's electronics architecture, and it integrates drivetrain and driving dynamics functions into an all-in-one unit. Most of the time, both brakes result in zero usage of the regular friction brakes and rely instead on regeneration. According to BMW, this can result in up to 25 percent efficiency increase. This is seamless stopping and starting, whether in drive mode, using active cruise control, or employing the Auto Hold function.
According to BMW, the Heart of Joy will be installed in every electric Neue Klasse application and thus will mean an enhancement in efficiency, range, and a more joyful driving experience. Speaking of that, this Vision Driving Experience creates a staggering 18000Nm of torque.
Handling that much torque makes it simple for the “Heart of Joy” to manage "the everyday driving demands," BMW believes. Further layers of technology that will be found in future electric BMWs should include three core "superbrain" systems for automated driving, climate control, vehicle access, and interior and exterior lighting.
Vision Driving Experience concept, when it comes to light, also has another feature, color-shifting wheels, which demonstrate the way the Heart of Joy operates. When the vehicle accelerates, the wheels glow green; when it recuperates energy, it goes blue; and it turns orange when braking. BMW has not gone into detail on how this works, but the methodology could be similar to how the color-changing body panels work with e-ink in the carmaker's i Vision Dee concept.
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept: exterior
The prototype is not just test mule camouflage but has also been proportionally scaled to complement the likes of the Vision Neue Klasse concept and the spy shots of the next-gen 3 Series.
But by using smaller integrated clusters, this has differentiating characteristics from the Vision Neue Klasse, as well as massive air dams underneath with two vertical slats on either side.
The window area in the Vision Driving Experience looks the same as that of the Neue Klasse, with that unmistakable upward kink at the C-pillar. The same story follows for tail lamps and rear profile, but the bumper is characterized by two large openings.
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept: Interior
What the cockpit of the Vision Driving Experience concept boasts is a massive infotainment screen, rhomboidal in shape. Behind it, there is a smaller display running almost the complete width of the dashboard and serving as the instrument cluster.
Other than that, the interior is fairly stark and empty, with only a few buttons on the extremely minimal center console, and carbon-fiber-bucket-style seats enjoy just the lightweight comfort of a minimal cushion.
The carmaker has announced that the first units of its new Neue Klasse series will roll off the production line in the carmaker's plant in Debrecen, Hungary, later this year. Thus, a very early introduction of the production-spec electric 3 Series is based on the Neue Klasse concept, which can be expected in 2026.
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