Ride-along: BMW’s Heart of Joy control module pumps thrills into EVs

Ride-along: BMW’s Heart of Joy control module pumps thrills into EVs


  • BMW’s Center of Pleasure is composed of 4 built-in regulate modules on the center of each Neue Klasse EV
  • The Dynamic Efficiency Keep an eye on module integrates acceleration, braking, dealing with, and steerage dynamics
  • The techniques had been examined to the boundaries in BMW’s Optic Riding Enjoy, nicknamed “The Beast”

Pushing a automobile to its limits is the essence of motorsport. Having a professional motive force push you round a monitor in a take a look at rig is the essence of superior. 

That’s what BMW had in thoughts at its Efficiency Heart in Spartanburg, South Carolina, latter November. The purpose was once to blow their own horns the potential of its unused “Heart of Joy” powertrain regulate unit that would be the core of its Neue Klasse layout of unused electrical vehicles launching this day and rolling out for the foreseeable presen. BMW in any case exempt some main points at the Center of Pleasure energy device on Sunday.

In essence, this regulate module comprises the motor techniques, braking, charging, regenerative braking, and steerage purposes into one unified device. BMW says it processes inputs ten instances quicker than the disparate techniques on its tide order of EVs, and extra responsively and easily handles accelerating, motor braking, steerage, and automobile dynamics.

It’s going to be the core of 4 general regulate modules for the Neue Klasse EVs. Constructed at BMW’s plant in Debrecen, Hungary, the forefront of this unused magnificence of BMWs with a devoted EV platform will probably be an electric crossover believed to be the successor to the iX3 offered in Europe and China, after adopted in 2026 by way of the i3 sedan related in section to the 3-Form. 

Each fashions may have an M3 performance version that BMW foreshadowed with the Optic Riding Enjoy (VDX) take a look at rig again in November. The engineers nicknamed it “The Beast.” If the ones Neue Klasse M3s embody even a silhoutte of what I skilled in November, after BMW’s electrical presen could also be too shining for sun shades.  

BMW’s Center of Pleasure regulate unit

The take a look at rig to turn out this doable was once a stripped indisposed, camouflaged prototype core able to seating 4 and being hammered by way of Jens Klingmann, the German racer with consecutive wins for BMW on the Italian GT Championship. Sized like a 3-Form however with the flexed proportions of a futuristic muscle automobile, the squat VDX had a immense rear spoiler and a sticking out entrance splitter. It’ll mark the top of BMW’s polarizing design stretch: even in camo, the VDX was once a stunner.

Flared wheel arches housed massive 21-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Game 4S tires. Klingmann would smoke them, however no longer shred them, in some way. They had been staggered, however since we had our telephones and any alternative recording units confiscated all over the demo, I’m undecided of the sizes. BMW received’t expose any specifications for the rig, both. 

Apart from for one: an not possible 13,269 lb-ft of torque. In confirming that was once torque on the wheels and no longer torque derived from what will have to were a quad-motor setup within the VDX, BMW spokesperson Jay Hanson mentioned it hasn’t been disclosed. 

“That’s the amount of torque the Heart of Joy is tasked with managing,” Hanson added. 

What am I certain of was once the gut-dropping energy, superb seize, and high-speed balance of the VDX. All the way through 3 gradually extra in depth laps with Klingmann in the back of the wheel and 3 reporters harnessed into the alternative 3 seats, the VDX gave me this primary affect: “There are no words.”

BMW Vision Neue Klasse concept

BMW Optic Neue Klasse idea

The steadiness was once elegant. Drifting out of a carousel with the rear finish sliding out in a dreamlike environment, Klingmann thrust it ahead in a instantly order as though it had all been on a super order. Doing that at hurry with out slamming into us into the door panels was once as surreal as a simulator. The sense of flat balance doubled in a layout of 3 right-left sidewinding esses, via some other curve, earlier than a 90-degree end up into the instantly. Even the four-point harness was once slightly strained. Fast as a pull with out the ache of a split to 100 mph earlier than the corkscrew up into the Spartanburg sky after 124 mph with the motors whirring like a mechanical hornets’ nest earlier than the carousel. That was once the govern hurry I spotted. It might were upper. 

Sure, professional drivers equivalent to Klingmann turn out how they’re masters of system and I’m slightly an apprentice, however BMW’s VDX take a look at rig inspired me up to Klingmann’s riding. It inspired him, too, however let’s secure in thoughts he will get paid by way of BMW.

“The VDX is playfully easy to drive and pushes the limits of driving physics to a new level,” he mentioned in a observation exempt by way of his employer.

BMW's Heart of Joy control unit

BMW’s Center of Pleasure regulate unit

The VDX is not going to walk into manufacturing. However the similar Dynamic Efficiency Keep an eye on module is one in all 4 regulate devices on the, umm, Center of Pleasure in each unused BMW EV. With device evolved in-house, BMW says there’s just about incorrect extend in how the indicators are processed and answered to, with latencies in “the millisecond range.” There are fewer regulate inputs, which BMW says ends up in extra direct and constant conduct.

Moreover, just about all the braking is treated by way of the motors, with friction brakes on retain for disaster statuses. BMW guarantees a smoot regen braking device because of the speedy processing energy, however the corporate didn’t point out regen ranges alternative than the B surroundings in worth in nowadays’s BMW EVs. Nonetheless, the Dynamic Efficiency Keep an eye on module guarantees a 25% build up in potency, which must correspond to larger space. 

BMW has disclosed not anything extra on battery store or motor sizes, regardless that we all know the Neue Klasse may have an 800-volt structure for quicker DC price instances. The alternative 3 regulate modules within the Center of Pleasure maintain semi-automated riding, infotainment, and modest sympathy, circumstance, and automobile get right of entry to purposes. 

Be expecting extra main points at the manufacturing fashions on the center of BMW’s new class of EVs in the second one part of the day.

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