BMW Vision Driving Experience – Next step in electric performance and driving dynamics
BMW is pushing the boundaries of electric performance with its latest high-performance test vehicle, the BMW Vision Driving Experience. While this prototype won’t be hitting production lines, it serves a crucial role in testing the automaker’s new “Heart of Joy”—a next-generation drivetrain and dynamics control system that promises to make electric driving more precise, efficient, and engaging.
Recently put through an endurance test at BMW’s Performance Driving Center in Spartanburg, USA, the Vision Vehicle is helping refine technology that will debut in the brand’s upcoming Neue Klasse electric models. The first of these models is set to enter production later this year at BMW’s Debrecen plant in Hungary.
The Neue Klasse represents BMW’s vision for the future—electric, digital, and circular—but the Heart of Joy introduces a critical fourth element: Sheer Driving Pleasure.
BMW first showcased this technology at IAA 2023, where Chairman Oliver Zipse held up the compact control unit, emphasizing its role in delivering a more engaging driving experience. While the Vision Vehicle itself won’t be produced, the Heart of Joy will be integrated into all Neue Klasse models, enhancing their performance and efficiency.
According to Frank Weber, BMW’s Board Member for Development:
“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.”
At the core of the Heart of Joy is a new high-performance computing unit that processes information ten times faster than current systems. It works alongside BMW’s in-house Dynamic Performance Control software, which governs acceleration, braking, energy recuperation, and steering with millisecond-level response times.
The test vehicle itself generates 18,000 Newton meters (13,269 lb-ft) of torque, an extreme figure chosen to ensure the system can handle intense power surges while maintaining control.
One of the biggest advantages of this integrated control system is its ability to seamlessly manage acceleration, braking, and cornering. Unlike traditional vehicles, where drivetrain and braking functions operate independently, the Heart of Joy allows for more precise handling and smoother stops.
• Cornering is more predictable, with fewer adjustments needed from the driver.
• Braking transitions are nearly seamless, whether in stop-and-go traffic or using cruise control.
• Low-speed maneuvers, like parking, are smoother, thanks to faster signal processing.
BMW claims this results in the most intuitive and stable driving experience in the company’s history.
A key focus of the Heart of Joy is maximizing energy efficiency. BMW’s new system ensures that 98% of drivers will rarely need to use conventional brakes, as regenerative braking will handle most stopping needs. Only in emergency situations will friction brakes engage.
By optimizing energy recovery, BMW estimates that efficiency improves by up to 25%, extending the vehicle’s range without increasing battery size.
To visualize these dynamics, BMW’s Vision Vehicle features color-coded wheel rims:
• Green – Acceleration
• Blue – Energy Recuperation
• Orange – Traditional Braking
The Heart of Joy is just one of four high-performance computing systems that will define the Neue Klasse lineup. The others focus on:
1. Automated and highly automated driving
2. Infotainment and connectivity
3. Comfort systems (climate control, lighting, vehicle access)
This new architecture consolidates multiple control units into four “super-brains”, streamlining vehicle operations and improving response times.
The BMW Vision Driving Experience will make its official debut at Auto Shanghai 2025, giving the public a closer look at the technology behind the Heart of Joy.
While this specific test vehicle won’t go into production, its technology will define the next generation of BMW’s electric lineup. With sharper handling, more efficient braking, and a renewed focus on driving pleasure, the Neue Klasse aims to set a new benchmark for electric performance.
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