BMW, like so many other automakers, is reinterpreting its brand/products for the coming age of complete electrification and digitisation. The BMW Vision Driving Experience is a test bed for many of the systems we will see in its upcoming Neue Klasse of vehicles. In particular, the car serves as a test bed for the drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology known as the ‘Heart of Joy’. The BMW Vision Driving Experience will be shown at the upcoming Auto Shanghai 2025, which is unusual for a test and development vehicle.

Follow Double Apex on Instagram and Facebook where we share more car content

The Heart of Joy enables us to take driving pleasure not just to the next level, but another one beyond that. In addition, we are further increasing efficiency, and therefore boosting range, as in future the driver will brake almost exclusively using energy regeneration. This is Efficient Dynamics squared.
– Frank Weber, member of the board of management of BMW AG, responsible for development

Supercomputing

Electrification is the (future) name of the game, whether we like it or not. And electrification means computing power. The BMW Vision Driving Experience was created with the sole intent of testing out the ‘Heart of Joy’ control systems. Every fully electric Neue Klasse model will benefit from the Heart of Joy. Incidentall, the very first of that series will be launched later this year.

BME’s new control unit will be responsible for the drivetrain, brakes, charging, recuperation and steering process. BMW says it processes information ten times faster than previous systems. The Vision Vehicle develops 18 000 N.m of torque. BMW figured it needed that much to determine if the control system can deal with an explosion of power of this magnitude.

BMW says: The car generates impressive traction and can be threaded through corners with exceptional precision. Fewer control inputs are required and the car’s line can be maintained with greater precision and stability. Hmmmm, that sounds very much as though the driver’s skill level will be diminished. 

More Efficient

The new systems and further integration also makes for a more efficient drivetrain. BMW claims that there is a 25 per cent increase in efficiency. The vast majority of drivers will not need to make any inputs using the conventional brakes. BMW also programmed the car’s wheels with colour-changing LEDs. Acceleration is indicated in green, energy recuperation in blue and braking using the friction brakes in orange.