In a world in which cars are becoming increasingly autonomous, it is no longer a priority for many car manufacturers to have fun on the steering wheel. BMW aims to jail this trend by committed to delivering exciting vehicles, regardless of whether they are or not. Bernd Körber, ex-mini boss and now head of the BMW product management, says that the “joy of driving” is here to stay here.
Speak to Autocar The magazine Körber explained that the delivery of thrills in a future dominated by automation would become even more important. While self -driving technology makes it easier for commuting in crowded cities, BMW still wants them to have full control if they absorb a curvy side street. His message was repeated by Adrian van Hoydonk, the head of the BMW group design:
“We want our customers to always have control. We want you to decide when you want to drive or when the car should drive autonomously.”
The new control unit “Heart of Joy”, which is intended for the upcoming electrical models from BMW, will improve the handling across the board. It applies not only to M-cars, but also to regular models such as the next generation IX3, which will be debut in September. BMW has indicated that the fast-moving supercomputer will go beyond new class vehicles, which means that we can see it in models such as IX5 and Co.
Although BMW has not yet allowed journalists to advance the VDX concept (Vision Driving Experience), it certainly seems to be a cry. With 18,000 Nm (13,269 LB-FT) torque on the wheels and over 1,300 hp in the barrel, the excitement seems to be guaranteed. While the VDX itself does not get into production, BMW says that it tests the “limits of driving physics” and is the “joy of its ultimate form”, partly thanks to the “heart of joy”.
Apart from marketing keywords, we have to wait and see how all this leads to Elektro -M cars. The first will be a performance sedan (“ZA0”) in the 3 Series segment. We have already reported that it could start before the end of 2027. In contrast to the VDX, it will not be a wild quad engine machine with a four-digit horsepower. Instead, it is rumored that a dual motor setup with an output remains below 700 hp.
If the electrical M3 finally arrives, it can even sound like a gas car. BMW has already annoyed an i4 m50-based prototype that emits an artificial inline-six soundtrack. Whether this type of tricks will actually improve the “joy of driving” is still up for debate. In any case, there is good news for purists. Another six-cylinder gas drive M3 is on the road and gives the enthusiasts for many years to enjoy ice vehicles before they become electrical. Provided that will ever happen …
Source: AutoCar
