For BMW fans, driving isn’t nearly getting from A to B. It’s in regards to the connection between you, the Final Driving Machine, and the street. That satisfying click on of a gearshift, the roar of an engine constructing to redline, the vibration of energy pushing by the pedals—it’s an expertise, not only a technique of journey. So, with future electrical BMW sportscars in sight, a giant query looms: will BMW EVs lose that particular connection? And what about BMW M? Will they nonetheless really feel like actual M vehicles?
Surprisingly, the reply isn’t as black-and-white as you would possibly suppose. BMW—and even just a few different automakers—are exploring methods to mix fashionable electrical efficiency with the uncooked, tactile engagement we’ve grown to like. In a current Q&A, BMW M aimed to handle a few of the questions many people have.
May an Electrical BMW M Have a Handbook?
On paper, electrical vehicles don’t want gearboxes. Their motors ship most torque the second you press the accelerator, so multi-speed transmissions, not to mention a handbook, simply aren’t vital. However that’s lacking the purpose. For BMW fans, a handbook transmission is in regards to the really feel, the management, the little rush of nailing an ideal shift.
BMW will get this. “It’s not nearly delivering the everyday BMW M efficiency within the BEV sector– our promise is that each successor to a mannequin will outperform its predecessor when it comes to efficiency,” says BMW M. “However it’s simply as essential to provide the BEV fashions a typical BMW M character – and this additionally applies to sound, mechanical noises, gearshifts, and so on. We’re all the time engaged on creating emotional and highly effective options.”
Clearly, they’re hinting on the concept of exploring simulated gearshifts for his or her electrical M fashions. Now, most of us will roll their eyes when studying that. However may we think about driving an electrical M automotive with paddles or a gearstick that permits you to shift, and with every “gear change,” the automotive responds identical to a handbook ICE automotive? After all we are able to, however whether or not that mechanical jolt from an ICE automotive may very well be replicated is one other story.
BMW isn’t alone although. Different manufacturers are already testing comparable concepts:
- Toyota is engaged on a handbook simulation for his or her EVs, full with a clutch pedal and gearstick. They’re even constructing within the danger of stalling—only for that genuine “learning-to-drive” expertise.
- Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N has a intelligent “e-shift” characteristic that simulates an 8-speed gearbox. You’re feeling the automotive “shift,” full with faux engine braking while you let off the throttle.
- Jeep constructed the Wrangler Magneto idea with an actual six-speed handbook. Yep, a handbook transmission in an EV. It’s extra about novelty than necessity, nevertheless it’s undeniably cool.
These manufacturers are all tapping into one key reality: driving emotion issues. In an interview earlier this yr, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel dominated out including gimmicks to future M EVs, like tank turns. But, simulated gear shifts may very well be in play. Take into consideration this: with superior engineering, BMW may replicate the little mechanical quirks we love. The jolt of a gear change. The slight vibration of a motor working exhausting. The sensation of energy surging by the automotive as you push it tougher. It’s all achievable—even in an electrical world.
What About Sound: Can a BMW M Nonetheless Sound Like a BMW M?
Should you’ve ever pushed an M automotive, you understand the sound is a part of the magic. Whether or not it’s the growl of an inline-six or the deep rumble of a V8, BMW M engines don’t simply make noise—they make music. So what occurs when that engine is changed by whisper-quiet electrical motors?
BMW’s already tackling this with IconicSounds Electrical, a collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer. For his or her common EVs, they’ve created futuristic soundscapes that match the automotive’s driving type. However for BMW M, the sound will should be extra aggressive, extra mechanical—one thing that feels alive.
Think about an electrical M automotive that hums menacingly while you’re at low speeds, then crescendos into an intense, sci-fi-like roar while you ground it. Pair that with simulated gearshifts and vibrations, and abruptly, it’s beginning to really feel extra just like the M expertise we all know and love.
For BMW M, the longer term isn’t about dropping the soul of driving—it’s about evolving it. Whether or not they can really pull it off—or whether or not the market is prepared for electrical M vehicles—stays to be seen. However based mostly on what we’ve seen up to now, and what we’ve skilled firsthand (extra on that quickly), the longer term appears to be like promising.
