[Jason]

Endurance Test for "Heart of Joy": the BMW Vision Driving Experience

• World-class dynamics, precision, efficiency, and driving pleasure.
• New “Heart of Joy” central computer works ten times faster than current systems.
• Extending the recuperation range increases efficiency by 25%.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – February 16, 2025… Showcasing driving pleasure up to the physical limits is BMW’s mission with its new high-performance test vehicle – the BMW Vision Driving Experience. This Vision Vehicle is not destined for production, but is instead serving as a rolling test rig for drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology developed specially for the Neue Klasse – the next generation of BMW vehicles – and referred to by BMW as the “Heart of Joy”. The prototype vehicle put the capabilities of the Heart of Joy to the ultimate test of endurance at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, SC, and BMW provided exclusive insights into its development program for the electric driving experience on board the Neue Klasse as part of a preview presentation. Every fully electric Neue Klasse model will benefit from the Heart of Joy.

The first Neue Klasse model will go into series production later this year at Plant Debrecen in Hungary. The new Heart of Joy adds a fourth dimension – BMW’s characteristic driving pleasure – to the existing portfolio of Neue Klasse characteristics (electric, digital, and circular). Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, took to the stage at the IAA 2023 show holding the small black box.

“The Heart of Joy enables us to take driving pleasure not just to the next level, but another one beyond that,” says Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Development. “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.”

It is important to note that the control unit will go into series production, but the Vision Vehicle will not.

Computer processing now ten times faster.

The Heart of Joy control unit for the drivetrain, brakes, charging, recuperation, and steering functions processes information ten times faster than previous systems. Working in tandem with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software, the Heart of Joy computes all the driving dynamics functions with a whole new level of speed and precision. The control unit has been developed entirely in-house using knowledge gained in the field of driving dynamics amassed by BMW engineers over more than a century. The Vision Vehicle develops 13,269 lb-ft of torqure. The reasoning behind this is that if the control system can deal with an explosion of power of this magnitude, it will be able to handle the demands of everyday driving with ease.

Energy recovery under braking (recuperation) sees the drivetrain and braking functions of electric vehicles working symbiotically. In the innovative electronics architecture of the Neue Klasse, the Heart of Joy is one of four central units and combines drivetrain and driving dynamics fuctions for the first time. These innovative control functions are protected by several patent applications. The high-performance unit controls acceleration and braking, vehicle stabilization, dynamic steering functions, and charging management. The central processing unit and perfectly coordinated BMW Dynamic Performance Control software developed in-house enable all connected actuators to respond directly and with minimal delay: latencies are in the milliseond range. By contrast, conventional systems have separate control algorithms for the drive system and brakes. This means the full handling potential of vehicles with powerful electric drive systems cannot be fully exploited.

Precise cornering and the smooth braking.

The driver and passengers experience a harmonious and noiseless driving feeling – regardless of the situation and speed they are travelling at. In dynamic driving scenarios, the new Heart of Joy / BMW Dynamic Performance Control combination delivers cornering poise and assurance beyond compare. The vehicle generates impressive traction and can be threaded through corners with exceptional precision. Fewer control inputs are required and the vehicle’s line can be maintained with greater precision and stability. This helps the vehicle to develop consistent cornering behavior and allows it to be steered more intuitively and smoothly. At low speeds – such as in stop-and-go driving or when parking – direct signal trasnmissions and rapid information processing ensure a compelling driving experience. In driving modes D or B, or when using Active Cruise Control, the parking brake, or Auto Hold, stopping and restarting merge seamlessly into one another.

Recuperation fuels a 25% increase in efficiency.

Furthermore, integrated drivetrain, braking, and energy recuperation control allows energy to be used more sustainably. Drivers will not need to apply the conventional brakes in most situations. The braking power generated using energy recuperation is sufficient for normal, everyday driving. Only under heavy braking, e.g. in an emergency situation, is intervention required from the friction brakes. All in all, this system increases efficiency by up to 25%.

The BMW Vision Driving Experience test vehicle visually demonstrates how the Heart of Joy is working through displays of color on the wheels: acceleration is indicated in green, energy recuperation in blue, and braking using the friction brakes in orange.

Four totally new superbrains will power the BMW of the future. These high-performance computers cleverly combine various elements that previously ran separately. BMW developed the Heart of Joy superbrain 100% in-house. It allows four important control units to be brought together within a single high-performance computer.

Another three superbrains are responsible for features such as automated driving, infotainment and basic functions such as climate control and comfort-enhancing systems, vehicle access, and interior and exterior lighting.

BMW Vision Driving Experience

VIDEOS:

[rgw]

So it’s going to have a better computer for the real-time OS to run on. Got it.

[mirob]

Those proportions...

[KoenG]

More than 13k ft lb of torque!? Only 10% of this torque would destroy any slushbox and the rest of the entire driveline with it.

Clear showcase of the ease for which EVs can deliver hypercar performance. Just astonishing!

Let the future come!

[Cortexiphan]

Proportions are great.

And I think we’re looking at the production grille & headlights of i3

[ghaffari46]

I will hold off on getting a tycan, this thing is very promising!

[DocWeatherington]

[SFBavarianArea]

M3 foreshadowing, everywhere 🤗

•“1,200 kg” of downforce via active aero

•“3g” lateral achieved

scheiße.

[NYR]

Soft launch of the Electric M3 to see what people think so they don't pull a C63e.

Front end is amazing, everything else sucks. The interior in particular is trash, Tesla ruined cars.

[SneakyHobbitses]

Specs wise, this car seems insane, and 1800 kilos of downforce at speed or 1200 static is absolutely bonkers.

Can’t wait to see how the new iM3 turns out at production, it seems as if BMW is determined to make this as crazy as possible

[deemo319]

Uh, so I see a ducktail, quite large fender flares that are slightly squared off which is very reminiscent of an E82 1M and it’s cartoonish fender flares. Enlarged and wide front valance with Air Curtains.

It has a damn ducktail!

Carbon fiber seats! It makes a brutha say hmmmm, is that an M2?

This thing is going to absolutely 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Liquid2.0T]

lol, ok. This shit is wild.

[chicagofan00]

Upcoming M3 EV is going to look fantastic! That interior is pretty wild though, will be interesting to see how much of it ends up in a production model outside of the screens.

[Ibiza]

Still doesn’t move the needle for me. The “super computer” aka Heart of Joy is taken with a grain of salt—is BMW now procuring NIVIDA chips?

Filming appears to have occurred late summer— probably around September 2024.

[hufington]

Looks very promising indeed. Only the length of the press release makes me suspicious.

[moriluvatar]

In terms of what stands out to me, and I'll start with the things that I don't love:
1. The steering wheel appears to be upside down. The vertical notch is wrong.
2. The exterior proportions, especially the rear door are ungainly.
3. The numbers and short range handling certainly seem to have potential, but there's a limit to the physics with existing systems. Is this good for a track day, or just good for a track run?
4. I do like that BMW is trying to reach out to the community and showcase the product development path, and that they are listening to feedback (for example from another recent source - the v8 is staying in US line up)

[hrf]

Does it look good? Looks ok, but no wow moments, maybe better than bever grille BMWs.
Does it excite me? Absolutely not.
Will I pay close to $100K for electric BMW? Absolutely not.
Am I excited about 1500hp performance? It is intersting, but my ICE B58 with MPE makes me more excited about my car.

I would pay $100K for high revving engine with great sound and with much less performance than this electric appliance.
Excitement is not crazy power, it is the soul of the car and it’s character. I still can’t see that in electric appliance cars.

I am so glad that we have now same rules for electric and ICE cars, no government should force their will on me what car to buy and how to live. If electric that good, let them compete with ICE fairly.

[Mr Wyn]

We’re really now entering a new paradigm, I’m all for it, it’s getting me excited! When can I sign up!

[forcefed]

Originally Posted by Jason

It is important to note that the control unit will go into series production, but the Vision Vehicle will not.

Wtf does this mean?

[RichardInCA]

Wow

[Ozzie8]

I like the "cheese" grill over the "bugs bunny" grill.

[Shaw]

Oh god! I hope that taillight design changes! 🙄🥺