BMW Motorsport is turning to electric
BMW M, the German manufacturer's high-performance car division, is currently testing a new "M Series" electric vehicle concept. The renowned BMW M team is working on an electric car that will be added to its range of performance vehicles.
The origins of BMW Motorsport
The BMW "M" badge (originally for Motorsport) has always been reserved for the manufacturer's highest-performance models. The colors of the emblem are meant to represent the combination of elements: blue for BMW, red for Motorsport (perhaps inspired by Texaco, an agreement that never materialized), and purple for the combination of these two elements within the "M" badge, according to BMW.
Originally, BMW only offered the "M" badge on cars it considered its "highest-performance range" and its "most agile and capable cars available." However, as the company began expanding its electric vehicle lineup, it also began to offer a more flexible definition of what qualified for the "M" badge, modifying its requirements to allow certain "M" cars that simply have "M features sprinkled throughout with just the right amount of performance blended with luxury." As a reminder, you can find our Performance accessories for BMW at Euro Racing Parts: black grilles , M Competition-style mirror caps , paddle shifters , and dynamic LED turn signals are available in our shop.
A new path towards electrification?
The new prototype tested by BMW more closely resembles the original definition of the "M" emblem, while remaining an electric vehicle. In recent years, rumors have circulated about the possibility of BMW creating an "M" version of its all-electric i4 sedan, and it now appears that these rumors are about to become reality. Although BMW has not yet shared the exact purpose of the concept being tested, it is clear that it will continue development to bring higher performance to its "M" series EVs.
The new prototype arrives shortly after BMW M GmbH's 50th anniversary and was part of the celebrations. According to Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, "On our anniversary, we're not just looking back, but especially forward." Rather than simply being a future production model, the prototype testing is a development tool for the brand's overall EV lineup.
Building on the i4 M50 that was revealed earlier this year, the prototype tested by BMW features wider front wheel arches, similar to the fender flares already present on the i4 M50, but extended a step further. This allows for the incorporation of high-performance axles. The M prototype also includes a modified strut that provides greater torsional rigidity so the car can operate more effectively in a wider range of driving conditions.
new technologies
The most exciting aspect of the prototype is the design of the quad-motor system being tested, which will lead to the first-ever four-motor M. This system enables an all-wheel-drive system capable of better managing higher torque and power levels by calculating the ideal power delivery to the road using data from accelerator pedal position, steering angle, acceleration, wheel speed, and other parameters. According to BMW, this new system "opens up entirely new possibilities for infinitely variable, extremely precise, and simultaneously very rapid engine torque distribution."
Power and torque can react in milliseconds and adjust with incredible precision, allowing the system to far surpass the capabilities of conventional drive systems. The M xDrive all-wheel-drive electric system can handle demanding and adverse road conditions by adapting quickly and dynamically, and the company plans to "exploit this potential to the fullest," according to Dirk Hacker, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH.
According to him, "Electrification opens up new degrees of freedom for BMW M vehicles. We can already see that we are able to achieve this goal. And we can already see that we can exploit this potential to the fullest, so that our high-performance cars will continue to offer the incomparable and typical combination of BMW Motorsport driving pleasure, agility and precision in a future without polluting emissions."
The new transmission system also allows for the recovery of braking energy through regenerative braking. According to BMW, the motors can act as a generator and feed this electricity back into the car's battery, enabling the vehicle to travel longer distances between charges. BMW states that the prototype being tested will be available as a production model as early as next year and is currently undergoing road testing to optimize the platform's use and performance.
BMW and electric vehicles
BMW's high-performance vehicle range, known as the "M Series," was created 50 years ago to fulfill the manufacturer's motorsport ambitions, but it has since become a status symbol and a favorite among racing enthusiasts. Like most traditional automakers, BMW is transitioning to an electric future by introducing several new electrified models.
BMW currently offers two fully electric models: the BMW iX, an EV SUV, and the BMW i4, its electric car. In addition, the automaker will launch the BMW i7 sedan in 2023, available in the United States and China.
The automaker has been more hesitant than many of its peers to fully embrace electric vehicles. That said, BMW aims for 50% of its total sales to be electric by 2030.
In 2021, BMW delivered approximately 104,000 fully electric models. However, BMW also states: "From 2025 onwards, we will rigorously take the heart of the BMW brand into a new, all-electric dimension with the 'Neue Klasse'."
