Introducing the Neue Klasse prototype – its look!
Recently spotted in public, although heavily camouflaged, the Neue Klasse prototype, a coupe version sporting independent, hub-mounted motors that integrate Continental brake technology, boasts striking, discernible features. Specifically, there is a two-door classic layout, distinctive shark nose, short overhangs and a sloping roofline culminating in a tailgate which sits above the beltline.
The front end, which clearly adheres to the Neue Klasse design language, is marked by a “phygital” aesthetic and minimalist elements. In this prototype, a traditional kidney grille has been replaced by two vertical lights, with the iconic dual-headlamp look still evident.
At the back, slim tail lights divide at the trunk’s center, with the prototype’s side profile marked by a prominent rocker panel that visually lowers the car’s height.
Hints of a supercar are interestingly not truly present, with a higher ground clearance that mimics design cues from the M1, M Vision Next and X Coupe Concept.
“If we were to build a supercar, we want it to break away from the traditional hypercar aesthetics,” BMW designers note.
This new design, which likely incorporates the hydraulic braking system into the assembly itself, speaks to BMW’s intent to introduce something very fresh to the market.
What else we know!
Planned is a drivetrain that will most likely be fully electric although details are still outstanding. We are also told that BMW is not ruling out cars that could deliver more than 1,000 hp, with the new architecture having the ability to accommodate a power output of 1 megawatt (1,341 hp).
And in comparison to the current i4, BMW says its newly developed battery cells will offer 20 percent more energy density and 30 percent faster theoretical charging speeds. Not only will these batteries be capable of storing more energy for the same size pack, but BMW claims that overall vehicle driving efficiency will increase by up to 25 percent, and as much as 40 percent in winter thanks to a new heat bump. The result? 30 percent more range versus the company’s current-gen EVs.
And while the wheel hub motors are exciting, they also pose significant challenges, including the weight, with BMW most likely weighing this option moving forward.
It’s still too early to get our hopes up, as similar ideas tend to get shelved, but this project appears to be the most promising supercar/hypercar venture we’ve seen in some time. It is also exciting to recall that Neue Klasse (translating to “New Class” in English) represents the automaker’s roots and its current return to them, once belonging to the 1962 BMW 1500, a car that served to revolutionize the marque’s midsize range and by all counts a huge success! It spoke to modernization both in design and engineering as well as brought forth all-out performance and expressive style.
This new coupe prototype, complete with strong Neue Klasse vibes coupled with revolutionary tech, only confirms the fact that BMW is quite advanced when it comes to hub-wheel motor technology.
While this concept remains mostly camouflage, we do know that BMW plans at least eight models based on the Neue Klasse architecture, including three that are exclusive to the Chinese market.
Is BMW finally presenting a Supercar? That is the hope! Fingers crossed this reaches production! Stay tuned!
