BMW showcases the control unit for the Neue Klasse
BMW emphasises right at the beginning: This car will not make it to series production, but the technology will. The new test car is merely “serving as a rolling test rig for drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology developed specially for the Neue Klasse,” which will roll the production line in Hungary later this year. Putting it to the test of endurance at the BMW Performance Driving Center in Spartanburg was supposed to provide “exclusive insights into its development programme for the electric driving experience on board the Neue Klasse as part of a preview presentation.”
About the technology itself: According to BMW, the Heart of Joy control unit was developed entirely in-house and processes information ten times faster than previous systems. The ‘BMW Vision Driving Experience’ test car offers 18,000 Nm of torque, which is more than needed for the Neue Klasse. But BMW says 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.”
Moreover, the carmaker explains that conventional systems have separate control algorithms for the drive system and the brakes. The Heart of Joy combines drivetrain and driving dynamics functions, meaning that “all connected actuators [can] respond directly and with minimal delay.” In terms of recuperation, the carmaker claims that 98 per cent of drivers will not need to use conventional brakes but that the ” braking power generated using energy recuperation is sufficient for normal, everyday driving.” Overall, that increases the vehicle’s efficiency by up to 25 per cent.
The ‘Heart of Joy’ is one of “four totally new super-brains” developed for the Neue Klasse. The other three will focus on automated and highly automated driving, infotainment and basic functions such as climate control and comfort-enhancing systems, vehicle access, interior and exterior lighting.
“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.”
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