BMW has unveiled a new concept dubbed the Vision Driving Experience that offers a glimpse at some of the systems that will trickle down to the brand's upcoming 'Neue Klasse' model generation, which will include the electric 3 Series (likely to be christened the i3) and the next-gen M3. The Vision Driving Experience concept itself is not destined for production.
- BMW Vision Driving Experience debuts new Heart of Joy control unit
- The concept features colour-changing wheels and makes 18,000Nm of torque
- Interior gets a big rhomboidal infotainment screen and carbon-fibre bucket seats
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept: new technologies
According to BMW, the Vision Driving Experience concept is a "rolling test rig for drivetrain and driving dynamics management technology." Chief among these new systems is an electronic control unit dubbed the "Heart of Joy," which oversees critical vehicle functions like the drivetrain, braking, charging, regeneration, and steering. The Heart of Joy can process information 10 times faster than BMW's previous ECUs, and will be found in every electric Neue Klasse model.
The Vision Driving Experience concept generates a whopping 18,000Nm of torque as a demonstration of the Heart of Joy's capabilities, and its energy recuperation system negates the need of using the conventional brakes in most scenarios, which can apparently increase efficiency by up to 25 percent. In addition to the Heart of Joy, future electric BMWs will be equipped with three core "superbrain" systems that govern automated driving, climate control, vehicle access, and interior and exterior lighting.
Coming to lighting, the Vision Driving Experience concept also features colour-shifting wheels as a demonstration of the Heart of Joy's operation. The wheels glow green when accelerating, blue when recuperating energy, and orange when braking. BMW hasn't detailed how this technology works, but it could be similar to the e-ink mechanism utilised for the colour-changing body panels of the carmaker's i Vision Dee concept.
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept: exterior
While the Vision Driving Experience concept is in test mule camouflage, its overall proportions echo the likes of the Vision Neue Klasse concept and the spy shots of the next-gen 3 Series. However, the Vision Driving Experience differentiates itself with slimmer integrated clusters for the headlights and kidney grilles than the Vision Neue Klasse, as well as an expansive air dam underneath with two vertical slats on either side.
The window area of the Vision Driving Experience looks identical to the Neue Klasse, complete with the distinctive upward kink at the C-pillar. It's the same story with the tail-lamps and rear profile, but the bumper has two large openings.
BMW Vision Driving Experience concept: interior
The cockpit of the Vision Driving Experience concept is dominated by a large, rhomboidal infotainment screen. Behind it, a smaller display stretches nearly across the width of the dashboard and serves as the instrument cluster. The interior is quite sparse otherwise, with a few buttons on the centre console and minimally cushioned carbon-fibre bucket seats.
BMW has confirmed that production of the first Neue Klasse model will commence later this year at the carmaker's plant in Debrecen, Hungary. A global debut of the production-spec electric 3 Series based on the Neue Klasse concept can be expected in 2026.
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