The Brain of BMW’s Latest Neue Klasse EV Can Handle Five-Digit Torque

The BMW Neue Klasse concept unveiled in 2023 previewed a completely new styling direction for the Munich-based brand, but the show car’s significance doesn’t end there. The modern Neue Klasse will inaugurate the next evolution of BMW’s electric technology, usher in a new version of the iDrive infotainment system, and, broadly speaking, illustrate a fresh approach to developing cars. As production nears, BMW previewed another Neue Klasse off-shoot called Vision Driving Experience with huge power at the wheels and in its digital brain.

Presented as a “high-performance test vehicle,” the Vision Driving Experience concept features a control unit called Heart of Joy that runs the drivetrain and the driving dynamics management technology. The system was developed from scratch specifically for the Neue Klasse range of cars—it’s not an evolution of what you find in, say, the current-generation 3 Series—and it will come standard on every electric member of the portfolio. Gasoline-powered Neue Klasse models, as far as we can tell, will not get the Heart of Joy.

Why not? We asked, and we’ll update this story if we learn more.

BMW describes the Heart of Joy as a small, black box. It’s not terribly interesting to look at but it’s hugely important. Essentially, the Heart of Joy is an orchestra conductor. The musicians are the electric motors, the brakes, the charging system, the brake energy recuperation system, and the steering. The Heart of Joy tells each function what to do 10 times faster than the control unit it replaces. This might sound like the kind of tech only an EV devotee would find interesting, but BMW tells us there are real-world implications.

The additional computing power allows the Heart of Joy to simultaneously control the acceleration and braking functions. That’s crucial, because the drivetrain’s brake energy recuperation system will slow the Neue Klasse down 98 percent of the time (the hydraulic system will handle the remaining 2 percent). BMW claims that this setup will increase efficiency by about 25 percent, meaning that the computer can unlock more range. Presumably, this is more efficient than adding extra battery capacity, which typically increases a vehicle’s price, weight, and charging time.

So, is BMW turning the next 3 Series into the ultimate coasting machine? Not quite, and the Heart of Joy apparently knows it. Our experience with the Neue Klasse is limited to the original model from the 1960s, so we’re not telling you this from experience, but BMW promises its new super-computer will allow the driver to “thread [the car] through corners with exceptional precision.” It cites fewer control inputs for greater precision and stability as well as consistent, reproducible cornering behavior as further benefits.

While full technical details aren’t available, we know that the Vision Driving Experience’s electric drivetrain is rated at exactly 13,269 pound-feet of torque. BMW isn’t planning on letting this drivetrain loose on a public road. Instead, its rationale is that the Heart of Joy can handle a much lower amount of torque if it’s able to deal with a five-digit number.

The concept’s body kit looks interesting as well. We’re pretty sure it’s different than the one fitted to the electric version of the M3, though the camouflage makes it difficult to tell, and it certainly gives the Vision Driving Experience concept a more muscular-looking stance than the original Neue Klasse concept. With a deep front splitter, punched-out wheel arches, and a huge rear diffuser, this looks almost like a race car. Key styling cues such as the shape of the grille, the tall windows, and the overall silhouette remain.

BMW will unveil the Vision Driving Experience concept at the biennial Shanghai auto show, which opens its doors in April 2025. We expect to hear more about the design study in the weeks leading up to the event. BMW is clear that the concept is not headed for production, though the technology it showcases will end up in showrooms. The first modern-day Neue Klasse model will enter production in late 2025 as an SUV.