BMW has revealed an all-new supercomputer featured in its forthcoming Neue Klasse range that will help process information from key vehicle components up to ten times faster than previous systems, enhancing their performance and responsiveness.
The new system, referred to by the OEM as the ‘Heart of Joy’ was demonstrated in the BMW Vision Driving Experience, a high-performance test vehicle designed to demonstrate the drivetrain and driving dynamics management technologies to be featured in the Neue Klasse vehicles.
This prototype vehicle was showcased at the BMW Performance Driving Center in Spartanburg, SC, where the OEM shared new details on the Neue Klasse line-up. All vehicles in the line-up will, for example, benefit from the Heart of Joy while the first model in the line-up is expected to enter series production before the end of 2025 at BMW’s Plant Debrecen in Hungary.
The Heart of Joy unit itself (which will also enter series production) offers a control unit for the drivetrain, brakes, charging, recuperation and steering subfunction, processing information from these components ten times more quickly than previous systems. It works alongside BMW’s Dynamic Performance Control software to compute all driving dynamics functions with enhanced speed and precision, with this software developed in-house based on the driving dynamics experience of BMW’s engineers. It ultimately helps the Vision concept vehicle achieve a maximum 13,269 lb-ft (18,000 Nm) of torque, which BMW highlighted as a marker of its suitability to handle everyday driving tasks.
In integrating the drivetrain, braking, and energy recuperation control functions, the Heart of Joy helps enhance sustainability with the braking power generated from energy recuperation being sufficient for everyday driving. Only under heavy breaking, in an emergency situation for example, is intervention required from the friction brakes. The Heart of Joy supports this function further through illuminated color codes on the wheel rims that denote its status. Acceleration, for example is indicated by a green light, while energy recuperation is shown with a blue light, and braking using the friction brakes with an orange light. Altogether, BMW says this functionality helps increase the efficiency of its Neue Klasse vehicles by up to 25 per cent.
The Heart of Joy ultimately represents one of four key control units that will operate simultaneously within its Neue Klasse vehicles. The latter three, BMW confirmed, will be responsible for features such as automated and highly automated driving, infotainment and basic functions such as climate control and comfort-enhancing systems, vehicle access, interior and exterior lighting. Further details on the unit’s host, the BMW Vision Driving Experience, will be revealed at its official world premiere at Auto Shanghai 2025.
