The Bavarians recently started a new phase with the introduction of the iX3 electric SUV, which was the first to demonstrate the capabilities of the Neue Klasse architecture. This platform will later become the basis for the i3 sedan – the electric alternative to the 3 Series – and the sporty version marked with the iconic “M”.
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The engineers decided not to look back and applied a radical drive configuration to the electric M3 model. The car will be driven by as many as four electric motors – one for each wheel.
Although the exact power output of the car is kept a secret for now, the handling characteristics should surprise even the biggest skeptics. All four motors will be controlled by a central control unit that BMW has dubbed “Heart of Joy”.
This system, together with the M Dynamic Performance controller, will instantly distribute the torque to each wheel individually. In addition, the engineers left the option of completely disconnecting the front engines.
The electric M3 will also get a battery with a capacity of more than 100 kWh. It will be different from the one fitted to the standard Neue Klasse models. Special elements with a different chemical composition and better parameters were created for the sports version.
In order to achieve maximum body rigidity, the battery will be integrated into the car’s structure in a different way than in conventional models. The entire drive system will be tuned for one goal – maximum dynamics.
Artificial sound and gear simulation
One of the biggest challenges in creating an electric sports car is the lack of emotion. BMW will try to solve this with technological means.
The car will be equipped with a system simulating the sound of an internal combustion engine and gear shifting. The driver should feel a change in sound that will remind the operation of a traditional automatic box, although technically only one-stage reduction gears will be installed between the electric motors and the wheels.
To combat the high weight of electric cars, BMW plans to use new composites from natural materials. They are said to have the same properties as carbon fiber, but 40 percent of the carbon is released into the environment during production. less CO2.
We won’t see the first fully electric M3 on the streets soon. Although the debut of the standard BMW i3 is expected this year, the sporty M version will most likely not appear on the market until 2028.
Source: tv3.lt
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