BMW captured global attention with its latest unveiling in Shanghai, China. BMW unveiled its most powerful high-performance test vehicle ever: the Vision Driving Experience. This prototype, based on BMW’s next-generation electrified platform, Neue Klasse, serves as an experimental model to demonstrate the potential of electric vehicle performance.
The core of the Vision Driving Experience is not simply about speed. BMW stated that the true essence of driving is the ability to control power, showcasing this philosophy through their proprietary ultra-fast control system, Heart of Joy. This system demonstrates unprecedented precision control, managing a powerful 18,000 Nm (13,273 lb-ft), comparable to an F1 car. This model redefines the true joy of driving, earning recognition as a symbol and a challenge for the EV era.
Harnessing Monstrous Torque with Precision Control: The Electric Car that Tames Raw Power
The vehicle’s identity is rooted in its impressive specs. Four electric motors independently power each wheel, generating a total torque of 18,000 Nm (13,273 lb-ft). That’s 17 times the torque of the Tesla Model S Plaid and 11 times that of the Bugatti Chiron. However, BMW has used this immense power for more than just acceleration. The car’s central computing system distributes real-time torque to each wheel, providing both precise handling and high-speed stability.
The car’s active aerodynamics generate up to 1.2 tons (2,645 lbs) of downforce and 3g of lateral force, delivering performance comparable to some F1 race cars. This allows for a new driving experience on the streets or the track. In a live demonstration, the car climbed a 55-degree incline effortlessly, leaving the audience in awe, as if it were defying gravity. The regenerative braking system is 25% more efficient than previous models, covering around 98% of braking with regenerative braking alone. This showcases the peak of next-generation EV efficiency and energy conservation.
The vehicle features innovative paint with photosensitive pigments. During the day, the paint reacts to sunlight, showing a soft white-toned yellow, and at night, it changes to neon yellow based on the battery charge. The car’s rear is coated with a magic film that reacts to UV light, creating a dynamic pink, orange, and yellow gradient. The effect makes it feel like the car’s body is alive, breathing light.
A Living, Breathing Body: Pioneering Future Design Language
The Vision Driving Experience may preview BMW’s future design direction. Its sleek vertical headlamps, bold intersecting planes and lines, and aerodynamic profile optimized for high-speed stability could become key features of upcoming pure EVs. The Neue Klasse design language, centered on the fusion of light and technology, is expected to evolve as a tool for delivering emotional technology.
With this prototype, BMW aimed to convey that an EV is not just a car, but a sensory space and moving technology. The upcoming Neue Klasse series, set for production at BMW’s Debrecen, Hungary plant, will embody this philosophy, seamlessly blending performance, design, and cutting-edge technology.
BMW is moving away from traditional internal combustion engine layouts, optimizing space for the electric era. Shorter overhangs, wider wheelbases, and slimmer dashboards create more expansive, open interiors. The digital interface revolves around panoramic displays and haptic controls, fostering an intuitive connection between driver and vehicle. The Neue Klasse represents BMW’s vision of the future: a perfect synthesis of functional beauty and sensory experience.
