BMW will underpin all automobiles offered by the automaker’s namesake model with a brand new electric-focused structure to be launched in 2025.
The New Class (Neue Klasse in German) platform is designed to be absolutely electrical however can even underpin vehicles with gasoline and diesel inside combustion engines, together with plug-in hybrids.
The structure will provide rear-wheel drive as customary, with the choice so as to add front-wheel drive for all-wheel drive.
Over time, the New Class will exchange BMW’s present two architectures:
- The UKL small platform used for BMW compact vehicles and by Mini. It might probably accommodate fwd and awd vehicles. UKL was launched in 2014 on the Mini hatchback.
- The CLAR bigger platform, that includes rwd and awd, used for the remainder of the BMW vary. It was launched in 2015 with the 7-Collection sedan.
The UKL and CLAR architectures have been initially developed for combustion engines, together with plug-in hybrid vehicles. They got a considerable overhaul with a brand new central ground to accommodate battery-electric vehicles and long-range plug-in hybrids.
For CLAR, the improve got here final yr with the introduction of the iX3 midsize full-electric SUV. The approaching i4 midsize electrical sedan and iX flagship electrical SUV, each due this yr, will use this platform. Full-electric variations of the 5 Collection and seven Collection will observe within the subsequent few years.
This upgraded CLAR additionally permits plug-in hybrid fashions to have bigger batteries, enabling the vehicles to journey for longer distances on electrical energy solely.
The New Class structure would be the central pillar in BMW’s plan to have full-electric fashions account for at the least 50 p.c of its world deliveries by 2030, with all its mannequin sequence providing a battery power-only possibility.
Even earlier than the introduction of the New Class structure in 2025, BMW stated its present architectures will permit the corporate to promote at the least one full-electric mannequin in 90 p.c of its present market segments by 2023.
BMW has realized quite a bit about methods to scale an structure for the reason that launch of the primary era of the three Collection Compact structure, launched in 2004 on shortened 3 Collection sedan underpinnings, know-how chief Frank Weber informed reporters throughout a media spherical desk on Wednesday.
“We’re in a position to scale it size-wise from the 2-Collection coupe as much as X7 with the present one (CLAR),” he stated.
BMW is utilizing the identical constructing rules with the New Class structure, which can serve “the whole BMW product portfolio,” Weber stated.
The structure could have an aerodynamic design aimed toward electrical automobiles with completely different proportions than previously, together with a extra spacious inside, BMW stated. It can even have a brand new high-voltage battery idea with an improved cell design. An electrical drivetrain primarily based on the hydrogen gasoline cell can be an possibility.
Digital first method
The platform can even have “know-how stacks” that may be tailored for various areas, permitting the automobile’s working system to be custom-made to go well with the various necessities and digital ecosystems in every of the world’s main markets. The stacks can even permit steady upgrades to make sure that the working system keep updated.
The digital first method built-in within the structure will allow clients to e book and configure options all through their automobile’s lifecycle. It will generate a major share of the corporate’s revenues sooner or later, BMW stated.
BMW has not disclosed what the smallest automotive underpinned by New Class shall be. It is potential that the subsequent 1-Collection may change to this new rwd/awd structure. The present era doesn’t have rwd.
The 1 Collection is predicated on the longer UKL-2 structure that additionally underpins 2 Collection fashions besides the Coupe and Grand Coupe. UK-2 additionally underpins the X1 and X2 compact SUVs, and the Mini Clubman and Countryman.
Mini’s China route
Weber stated that future Minis will use an structure designed with electromobility as its focus and co-developed with Chinese language joint-venture associate Nice Wall Motor.