BMW M Neue Klasse Goes Electric From 2027
BMW M will soon deliver the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ experience in electric form. From 2027, the BMW M Neue Klasse will usher in a new era in the high-performance vehicle segment and, for the first time, bring BMW M’s motto, “Born on the racetrack. Made for the streets. Core of a passionate community”, to life with a fully electric drivetrain. “The next generation of models is set to establish a new benchmark in the high-performance vehicle segment,” says Franciscus van Meel, Managing Director of BMW M GmbH. “With the latest generation of Neue Klasse technology, we are taking the BMW M driving experience to a new level and will inspire our customers with outstanding, racetrack-ready driving dynamics for everyday use.”
This future generation expresses the brand’s DNA with authenticity and sharpens the distinct BMW M driving experience. The fully electric drivetrain redefines BMW M dynamics, pairing driving pleasure with racetrack capability in a way the brand has not before. The BMW M Neue Klasse will deliver extended range, strong charging performance enabled by 800-volt technology, and highly efficient energy recuperation so that drivers can rely on it every day. BMW M will also use a newly developed architecture with centrally controlled individual wheel drive, which will open up a new dimension of driving dynamics and increase driving safety across the next-generation line-up.
Neue Klasse technology will also strengthen performance through a new central control and electronics architecture. Four high-performance computers, known as “Superbrains,” will unite computing power for driving dynamics (“Heart of Joy”), automated driving, infotainment, and basic and comfort functions. This setup will speed up data exchange, improve overall performance, and enable next-generation BMW M models to receive updates and upgrades more quickly.
BMW M built the BMW M Neue Klasse from the ground up around an innovative BMW M eDrive concept with fully integrated M Dynamic Performance Control. At the core of the new architecture, BMW M eDrive draws on the BMW Gen6 technology of the Neue Klasse and drives each wheel with an electric motor. The M-specific control software of the ‘Heart of Joy’, together with the ‘BMW M Dynamic Performance Control’, will unlock new potential in driving dynamics and safety for a high-performance electric car. The system will also enable maximum recuperation and optimum traction right up to the limit, while delivering a more direct response.
BMW M will fit all-electric BMW M Neue Klasse models with two electric drive units on the front and rear axles, each powering one wheel with its own motor. Each of the four electric motors will drive one wheel, combining the benefits of rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive while boosting driving dynamics on the road and the racetrack. BMW M will also allow the car to decouple the front axle fully. This approach will restore BMW M’s renowned rear-wheel-drive feel, enhance dynamic driving, improve efficiency, and increase range on longer motorway journeys. BMW M will also add various predefined driving modes, simulated gear shifts, and a newly developed soundscape to shape an unmistakable BMW M driving experience and improve drivability. These features will show how BMW M channels pure emotion into fully electric BMW M models and make it feel in every drive.
BMW M eDrive will deliver high power density, enabling BMW M to use the most powerful drives it has ever used. BMW M will arrange the electric motors in parallel across both drive units, with each motor powering one gearbox per wheel. The drive units will also integrate the inverter that controls the electric motors and the oil supply. This system will precisely control torque and power at each wheel, delivering optimal traction, managing continuous torque distribution between the braking system and electric motors, and recovering brake energy right up to the limit. BMW M will use this setup to create a driving experience in BMW M production vehicles that the brand has not achieved before.
BMW M will also tailor the high-voltage battery to meet the demands of high peak performance and faster charging. The battery will provide over 100 kWh of usable energy as the powerhouse for the BMW M eDrive system, and BMW M will keep its focus on compatibility with both road and racetrack use. BMW M will achieve that balance through a "Design to Power" approach that uses a performance-optimised variant of the Gen6 cylindrical cell. BMW M will also optimise the cooling system and the Energy Master, the brilliant control centre of the battery located outside the battery pack, to support higher power outputs. With BMW M-specific solutions, the Gen6 high-voltage battery in fully electric high-performance models will deliver even greater peak and charging performance. Within the Gen6 technology, the Neue Klasse models will also offer the highest recuperation values. The high-voltage battery housing will also serve as a structural component of the vehicle, connecting to the front and rear axles. The resulting increase in overall stiffness will improve driving dynamics.
BMW M will reflect technological progress through new, innovative materials and performance upgrades. Lightweight construction has long played an essential role in BMW M models, so BMW M will introduce natural fibre elements for the very first time within the fully electric BMW M high-performance model line-up. The brand has built significant experience in durability, production, and integration using natural fibre in motorsport since 2019. This material offers similar properties to carbon fibre, and BMW M can produce it with around 40 per cent less CO2e.
