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BMW has described its new Neue Klasse platform as the one greatest funding within the firm’s historical past, a clean-sheet electrical car structure designed to hold the German model into the following decade and past.
Talking on the international reveal of the brand new BMW iX3, Senior Vice President of Neue Klasse at BMW, Dr Mike Reichelt, mentioned the choice to reinvent BMW’s core fashions from the bottom up was made in the midst of COVID, when it grew to become clear incremental product updates wouldn’t be sufficient.
“In 2020, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it was clear we would have liked this massive leap,” he mentioned.
“What we now have seen after this [project] began was that the leap is so massive that it wasn’t potential to stick with the present portfolio. And this was the second resolution to say the leap is so massive that we need to combine Neue Klasse expertise in the entire portfolio.”
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Dr Reichelt described Neue Klasse as essentially the most important leap BMW has ever made.
“This was the rationale why we mentioned ‘Sure, allow us to leap in such a means we by no means did it earlier than’. The most important funding within the historical past of BMW. Nevertheless it was time to say ‘now it’s the time’.”
In contrast to BMW’s earlier versatile platforms, Neue Klasse is devoted to electrical powertrains and received’t be compromised by having to accommodate an inner combustion engine (ICE).
“This Neue Klasse structure platform is uncompromising. This was, for us, actually vital. After we go to this step, we now have to uncompromisingly optimise for totally electrical vehicles,” mentioned Dr Reichelt.
The rollout begins with the brand new iX3 and an electrical 3 Collection (i3) due subsequent yr, earlier than the EV platform is unfold quickly throughout the lineup. By 2027, BMW says 40 new and up to date fashions will use Neue Klasse expertise.
“It’s solely the primary one [iX3], and one other Neue Klasse mannequin comes actually quick. You could have seen the silhouette, the prototype of the i3, beginning subsequent yr, after which we roll out the entire portfolio… the expertise of the Neue Klasse is available in each new mannequin, 40 new fashions and mannequin updates for 2027.”
Dr Reichelt mentioned the platform was designed primarily based on buyer analysis into why folks hesitate to go all-electric. Vary and charging time had been the clear priorities.
“We did research [to find] what are an important ache factors why clients don’t drive a totally electrical automobile? We now supply greater than 800 kilometres. I feel we solved this drawback,” he mentioned.
BMW may even supply bi-directional charging, permitting the automobile to feed energy again into a house or energy grid.
Regardless of the leap in expertise, Dr Reichelt argued that Neue Klasse is designed with simplicity and price effectivity in thoughts.
“If you begin with this, one of many foremost matters was decreased complexity… make it so simple as it as it’s potential. For instance, with the brand new structure, we decreased the wiring harness by 600 meters. Additionally, the physique in white. It’s a standard metal physique – it’s not unique materials – however in a easy means we now have by no means finished earlier than. Simplicity is without doubt one of the foremost targets. When it’s easy, it’s usually cost-efficient, it’s good to supply, and we did all this [with Neue Klasse].”
That method additionally allowed BMW to place the brand new iX3 at a value level nearer to combustion rivals than anticipated.
“So with the leap to the Gen Six cell expertise round battery cells, we decreased dramatically the worth of the battery pack and due to this fact additionally for the shopper,” mentioned Dr Reichelt, who admitted growth was not clean on account of such a variety of recent methods.
“This was a tough time, as a result of whenever you make such a quantum leap and you’re on the sting of expertise, generally issues go mistaken. We check loads. We have now thousands and thousands of kilometres of check drives and prototypes all all over the world. An important factor is to seek out out the issues actually quick so that you’ve got time to unravel it.
“However we are saying right here immediately we’re able to launch. We’re able to roll out. However this was not a simple means. If it had been a simple means there’s not a quantum leap!”
Dr Reichelt believes the German model’s status for sturdiness and high quality stays the benchmark.
“That’s our historical past, our legacy at BMW – the promise of high quality and sturdiness. So I feel sure, we’re prepared. We’re completely certain we’re prepared for this, and we all know this was not the straightforward means.”
For Dr Reichelt, Neue Klasse isn’t only a product program — it’s a turning level as important as BMW’s authentic Neue Klasse vehicles of the Sixties.
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