Frozen lakes in the bitter cold above the Arctic Circle, the BMW wind tunnel with wind speeds of up to 300 km/h, public streets, test tracks and circuits used in professional motorsport: for more than eight years, the first BMW M high-performance electric drive has been undergoing rigorous preparation to ensure it is ready for series production. Now comes the decisive test. At the BMW test track in Miramas, the members of the Development Board are evaluating the pre-production model of the all-electric BMW M3 in real-world driving conditions. Their verdict will determine whether the vehicle and its drive system meet the high standards set by BMW M. Learn the outcome in Episode 7 of BMW M Electrified.
How cool is that? It’s so precise and responsive that you don’t realise you’re in an electric car – except that you can take corners even faster.
KICK-OFF AT THE SACHSENRING.
KICK-OFF AT THE SACHSENRING.
Before the new all-electric BMW M3 faced evaluation by the BMW Chief Development Officer, the developers carried out one final round of testing. All the specialised departments involved in the creation of the vehicle and its high-performance electric drive gathered at the Sachsenring to test the new technology under demanding circuit conditions on the DTM race track and to optimise every detail.
The outcome impressed even Jörg Weidinger after driving the near-production version of the new BMW M3 on the racetrack for the first time. Weidinger is a long-standing racing driver and development engineer at BMW M and regularly conducts the record laps with BMW M models at the Nürburgring – in other words, someone with the proverbial ‘petrol in his blood’. He embodies performance at the limit like no other. Carsten Wolf, responsible for Functional Design and Integration of the M HP BEV, therefore describes it as “a real challenge” to convince Jörg Weidinger of the benefits of electromobility.
That’s impressive. A real leap forward. The experience is incredible.
DECISION IN MIRAMAS.
DECISION IN MIRAMAS.
For 40 years, the BMW Group has been using the closed-off proving ground in Miramas, in the south of France, for vehicle tests. Up to 4,000 prototypes a year are subjected to the most rigorous testing on up to 65 kilometres of test track across a wide variety of road types – from handling circuits and off-road courses to country roads and racetracks. These include, in particular, high-friction runs – extreme tests under optimal grip conditions to assess the maximum physical stress limits of brakes, tyres, chassis and control systems – and hot-weather trials – vehicle tests under extreme climatic conditions with very high outside temperatures and intense sunlight.
ELECTRIFYING REACTIONS FROM THE TEST DRIVERS.
ELECTRIFYING REACTIONS FROM THE TEST DRIVERS.
The test drives with the Chief Development Officer and his division managers, which take place several times a year in Miramas, are of particular importance. They determine the future and further development of each project. Consequently, the development teams were eager to see the resonance to the driving experience, as the Development Board took the wheel of the pre-production model of the new BMW M3 for test drives. Dr Joachim Post, Chief Development Officer, succinctly summarises the impression made by the near-production test vehicle as it sprinted through the numerous bends and dips, across straights and over crests.
For me, this is driving the car at the physical limit through a corner. You feel like you can’t go any faster, but then there’s always more to give. For me this is what driving in a four-motor vehicle feels like.
We’ve spent so much time discussing how electric mobility at M should work. This is how.
[1] Performance data of petrol engines apply to vehicles using RON 98 fuel. Fuel consumption data apply to vehicles using reference fuels in accordance with EU Regulation 715/2007. Unleaded RON 91 and higher with a maximum ethanol content of 10% (E10) may also be used. BMW recommends RON 95 fuel. For high-performance automobiles, BMW recommends RON 98 fuel.
Range depends on various factors, in particular: individual driving style, route characteristics, outside temperature, heating/air conditioning, pre-conditioning.
For plug-in hybrid: Electric drive depending on battery charging level.
For plug-in hybrid: At temperatures below minus 10 degrees Celsius, the fully electric drive system is only available after a few kilometres of driving, once the battery has heated to operational temperature.
For plug-in hybrid: Composed of combustion engine drive and electric drive. Electric drive depending on battery charging level.
For models with Boost function: Temporary uprating <10 seconds in excess of specified nominal value.
The models illustrated include optional equipment. Due to regular software updates, screen designs in the communication may differ from the actual screen design in your car.
All vehicles, equipment, combination possibilities and varieties shown here are examples and can differ in your country. In no way do they constitute a binding offer by the BMW M GmbH. Visit your local BMW website or see your authorised BMW M Retailer for accurate details on the offers in your country.
The stated values were determined in accordance with the prescribed WLTP measurement method. The actual values depend on various factors, e.g. load, driving style, route, weather, auxiliary users (including air conditioning), tires, battery state of health. For ranges, data determined as per WLTP takes into account any optional equipment (available on the German market in this case).
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