The design of what could be BMW’s first electric M car has been previewed, with the covers coming off the new Neue Klasse-based Vision Driving Experience concept.
Expected to influence what the electric M3 (rumoured to be named the iM3) will look like, the Vision Driving Experience (VDX) is a more hardcore version of the Vision Neue Klasse that previews the upcoming electric 3 Series (i3).
Visual changes between the concepts include the VDX adopting narrower headlights (mimicking BMW’s iconic kidney grilles), a wide lower air intake and splitter, flared wheel arches, wide side skirts, rear air channels, and a ducktail boot spoiler which the tail lights are integrated into.
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The VDX’s interior is, as expected, an aggressive take on BMW’s recently revealed Panoramic iDrive cockpit, with carbon fibre-backed seats, racing seat belts, and prominent centre console buttons to control its driving systems.
BMW also detailed part of what is under the VDX’s skin: a control unit it’s named the “Heart of Joy”.
This control unit won’t be exclusive to high-performance models, with BMW saying “every fully electric Neue Klasse model will benefit from the Heart of Joy”.
BMW claims the new control unit can process drivetrain, brakes, charging, recuperation and steering subfunction information 10 times faster than previous systems, working together with the Dynamic Performance Control software underpinning its models.
According to the carmaker, thanks to the Heart of Joy, “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.”
It also claims the regenerative braking (or recuperative braking) capability of the VDX is 25 per cent greater than its existing electric vehicles (EVs), while adding the traditional brakes only need to be used when hard deceleration is required.
Though unlikely to reach production, the VDX employs lights on its wheels to show the state of the vehicle. The wheels light up green when accelerating, blue when it’s regenerating energy and orange if using the traditional brakes.
BMW was tight-lipped about powertrain details for the VDX, only saying it develops 18,000Nm of torque. It’s worth noting this is wheel torque, rather than at the motor itself.
Previous reports have suggested the BMW iM3 will be powered by a quad-motor electric powertrain, reportedly generating up to 746kW.
Speaking with media at the Australian launch of the new M5 sedan, BMW M’s vice president for customer, brand and sales, Sylvia Neubauer, confirmed a combustion-powered M3 will be offered “in parallel” with the all-electric iM3 due in 2028.
“We offer all-electric M Performance models in most segments that deliver the genuine M feeling without any local emissions. But, we also believe that there will be room for other driver technologies, such as hybrid or conventional drives,” Ms Neubauer said.
“You can trust us, we are prepared for the future. I can also reassure you the all-electric M3 that I just mentioned, will have a brother with a combustion engine.”
A video teasing the iM3 previewed new powertrain sounds which mimic combustion engines – similar to what Hyundai N has done with the Ioniq 5 N.
It’s unclear whether these sounds will include fake ‘shifts’ to give the sensation of using a conventional transmission, though this all appears to be a development of the BMW IconicSounds powertrain noises offered in existing plug-in hybrid and all-electric models.
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