BMW’s First Electric M Car: Four Motors, One for Each Wheel
▼ Summary
– Ars Technica drove the new BMW iX3, the first electric vehicle on BMW’s new “Neue Klasse” platform, with travel and accommodation provided by BMW.
– The first fully electric 3 Series sedan, the i3, will debut later this year, followed by a high-performance electric M division model next year.
– Previous M-tuned EVs from BMW were not considered true M cars and did not outperform their less powerful, cheaper counterparts.
– BMW M’s managing director states the Neue Klasse technology will set a new benchmark for high-performance, racetrack-ready driving dynamics in everyday vehicles.
– The performance EV’s key technology is the “Heart of Joy” computer, which runs M-specific software for vastly faster dynamic control of its four electric motors.
BMW is poised to redefine high-performance electric mobility with its first dedicated electric M car, a vehicle that promises to deliver the brand’s legendary driving dynamics through a revolutionary four-motor powertrain. This upcoming model, developed on the new Neue Klasse platform, represents a fundamental shift in engineering philosophy, moving beyond adapted combustion-era designs to a purpose-built electric performance machine.
While BMW has previously offered M Performance variants of models like the i4 and iX, the company has been clear that these were not full-blooded M cars in the tradition of the M3 or M5. The forthcoming model, potentially named the iM3, aims to correct that distinction by offering a driving experience that is not merely more powerful but fundamentally superior to its standard counterparts.
The core of this transformation lies in a sophisticated technological architecture. The Neue Klasse platform embraces a software-defined vehicle approach, consolidating functions into a handful of powerful central computers rather than relying on numerous isolated electronic control units. This setup includes separate computers for infotainment, automated driving systems, and vehicle body functions.
The most critical component for performance is the aptly named Heart of Joy controller. This dedicated computer runs BMW M Dynamic Performance Control software, which processes data and commands at a speed an order of magnitude faster than current M models. This blistering processing power is essential for managing the car’s defining feature: four individual electric motors, one for each wheel.
This quad-motor configuration unlocks unprecedented levels of torque vectoring and dynamic control. The system can precisely modulate the power delivered to each wheel independently, managing traction, cornering forces, and vehicle stability with a speed and subtlety that mechanical differentials cannot match. It allows engineers to tailor the car’s handling character with extreme precision, from neutral and stable to agile and playful, all adjustable at the driver’s command.
The result is a vehicle designed to be “racetrack-ready for everyday use,” as described by BMW M’s leadership. By integrating cutting-edge electric drive technology with the division’s decades of motorsport-derived expertise, this first true electric M car is not just an evolution, it is engineered to set a new benchmark for what a high-performance electric vehicle can be, delivering the visceral engagement and dynamic excellence that defines the M badge.
(Source: Ars Technica)
