By Otsile Kadiege

BMW recently revealed a concept vehicle called Vision Neue Klasse Concept which showcases what the next-generation of vehicles from its core BMW brand will look like. The Vision Neue Klasse Concept also previews the next-generation BMW iDrive and the automaker also shed some light on the brand’s sixth-generation eDrive technology.

Neue Klasse exterior design

The exterior showcases design elements that will define the different Neue Klasse models. Characteristic BMW features include a fresh interpretation of the brand’s signature BMW kidney grille and double headlights, powerful wheel arches, the retracted greenhouse, a steeply forward-slanting “shark nose” front-end, and 21-inch aerodynamic wheels that pay tribute to the classic cross-spoke design inspired by motorsports. At the same time, the almost monolithic vehicle body, with strong indentations at the front and rear, as well as large window areas, create a new aesthetic.

BMW Panoramic Vision

Inside, the Vision Neue Klasse Concept has a minimalist design with a few analogue operating controls. The highlight is the next-generation, highly advanced BMW iDrive. As it did with the introduction of the BMW iDrive controller in the centre console and the BMW Head-Up Display, the brand once again revealed groundbreaking technology with the BMW Panoramic Vision, which will be available for the first time in the Neue Klasse.

With this tech, information is projected at the ideal height into the driver’s line of sight and, for the first time, across the entire width of the windscreen. This innovation will complement the enhanced BMW Head-Up Display in the production models of the Neue Klasse. In the next generation of BMW iDrive, both the driver and front passenger are able to interact with information displayed on BMW Panoramic Vision, creating a shared user experience. Drivers can move content shown on the Central Display to the BMW Panoramic Vision with a simple gesture

Sixth-gen eDrive technology

The Neue Klasse models will be manufactured at BMW Group’s new plant in Debrecen entirely without fossil fuels and with much wider use of raw and secondary materials produced with reduced CO2. The Neue Klasse will also provide significant impetus for resource-efficient individual mobility. High energy efficiency during the vehicle use phase will be ensured by optimising weight, air and rolling resistance, as well as through intelligent heat management, especially for the electric drive train, using sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology.

In addition to highly efficient electric motors, major advances in the new BMW eDrive technology include newly-developed round battery cells, with more than 20 percent higher energy density than that of the prismatic cells previously used. The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology will improve the charging speed for Neue Klasse models by up to 30 percent, in addition to boosting their range by up to 30 percent. As a result of all these measures, overall vehicle efficiency will increase by up to 25 percent.