- All-electric M cars from BMW will be coming starting in 2027, the company said on Tuesday.
- They will have quad-motor engines and gear shifting simulations.
- The Neue Klasse M cars will also have revamped batteries designed to produce high power.
BMW has just launched the first electric car within its Neue Klasse framework: the The iX3 crossover is very impressive. With greater range, faster charging and better software than the battery-powered Beemers that came before, it heralds a new era for the brand’s electric vehicles.
The iX3 brings electrification to the largest segment of BMW’s business. But there is a potentially greater challenge ahead. To be a long-term EV leader, the company needs to electrify the emotional core of its brand: high-performance sports sedans like the M3 and M5. And it has to do so with products that enthusiasts accept as authentic.
BMW plans to launch its first M electric cars in 2027.
Photo by: BMW
Those cars are coming soon. The first-ever all-electric M cars will hit the road in 2027, delivering “unparalleled high performance,” the automaker announced on Tuesday. At a press conference late last year, I was given the full download of BMW’s plans and the technology that will power it.
“With fully electric cars, we can then redefine the driving experience, especially with regard to performance, which would be a very big step from our point of view,” Philipp Brun, head of the BMW M Neue Klasse project, told reporters in November.
Four engines and “performance levels you’ve never seen before”
Creating track-capable electric M cars involves making some important modifications to the Neue Klasse platform. The iX3 has two motors: one drives the front wheels and one powers the rear wheels. All Neue Klasse M cars will have four motors, each driving one wheel. BMW says each wheel can be controlled quickly and independently, resulting in driving dynamics that blow other M cars out of the water.
“The unique concept allows us to achieve levels of performance that have never been seen in a BMW M production vehicle to date,” said Brun.
BMW has developed new drive units featuring two motors each.
Photo by: BMW
This would be a unique setup in the US for other performance sedans such as Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Sapphire Use three-motor powertrains. Rivian R1T Quad, R1S Quad and Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ technology They are the only mass-produced four-engined vehicles currently available in the United States, and they are all monster trucks. Quad performance car drivetrains have, until now, been the domain of million-dollar subcompact supercars like the Rimac Nevera, so this will be a major accomplishment.
BMW has developed a new drive unit for M cars that includes two independent motors, two gearboxes, an inverter and an lubrication system, all in a single housing. There is one in the front of the car and one in the back. For greater efficiency during highway driving, the front axle can be mechanically disconnected, Brun said.
BMW doesn’t discuss specific numbers. But Brun said the car’s power, torque and acceleration “will reach new heights.”
Faster programs and fake gear shifts
Just like other Neue Klasse cars, the M cars will use a simpler, more robust electrical architecture that BMW says makes its latest electric cars more responsive and fun to drive. Instead of spreading the car’s functions across dozens and dozens of ECUs, BMW makes use of a few augmented computers in an approach similar to “Region Architectures” are found at Rivians And Tesla.
The automaker has overhauled the Neue Klasse’s battery with different cells, more cooling and an updated battery management system.
Photo by: BMW
“The benefits are the same as in the Neue Klasse models: faster data transfer between controllers, which leads to clear performance gains for us,” Brun said. “The system is ten times faster, sharpening the system’s responses, thus improving driving dynamics.”
The “Heart of Joy”, a computer that centrally handles everything related to the Neue Klasse’s powertrain and driving dynamics, features software specifically designed for M cars.
The entire driving experience will be tied together by simulated gear shifting – a first for BMW – as well as corresponding “M-specific sounds”. the Hyundai Ioniq 5N Pioneering false shifting and engine noise in the electric vehicle. To the surprise of many, it was a huge success. Porsche said it will add simulated gears to its electric cars, and now BMW is joining the party, too.
While Hyundai’s system is limited to mimicking the engine note of a gas-powered Elantra N, BMW has a more interesting back catalog of engine notes to use. Imagine switching between the sounds of an old BMW 2002 four-cylinder and a modern V-8 M5, all in a four-motor electric car.
BMW says the new drive units will deliver performance beyond any M car.
Photo by: BMW
At the heart of the 800V powertrain is a Neue Klasse battery pack with some high-performance upgrades. It will contain cells with additional cooling and prioritize power delivery over power density. This results in higher power output and faster charging, but lower overall capacity and driving range. BMW says the package will deliver more than 100 kilowatt-hours. The car’s battery management system has also been overhauled, in order to handle higher power peaks.
What’s more, the M package is attached to the vehicle and suspension in more places than in a standard Neue Klasse, Brunn said, adding to the car’s strength.
In many respects, electric cars are fundamentally better, democratizing supercar-like acceleration while offering unique opportunities like a motor at each wheel. Of course, battery weight and recharging times still present serious challenges.
BMW has clearly gone beyond lip service and put a lot of work into adapting the M3 and M5 for the electric age. She has proven her ability to bring great ideas and technologies to the high-performance space. And the iX3 shows that the automaker can make a great electric car using next-generation Neue Klasse technology, too.
But can it offer a package that will satisfy enthusiasts, who may be skeptical of EVs in general? It’s hard to say until we get behind the wheel.
Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com
