BMW

BMW's M sports division shows commitment to electrification by adding four electrified drive motors to new i4 model

BMW's M sports division is committed to electrification, as is the rest of the automotive industry as a whole. The Bavarian brand management plan for its models includes creating hybrids and pure electric vehicles, and today BMW wants to highlight the latter in particular. BMW M has announced that it has begun testing its new chassis and steering control systems on a modified i4 that includes a four-engine engine.

Each motor drives a separate wheel, giving the new i4 all-wheel drive and precise control over the delivery of torque to each wheel.

According to the automaker, the four-engine M xDrive powertrain will allow the driver to experience "completely new dynamic performance". A short teaser video from BMW shows the test car taking a sharp turn, which likely showcases some of the car's capabilities.

The drive and chassis control systems calculate the power required using inputs such as accelerator pedal position, steering angle, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, wheel speed and other parameters. This ensures the right amount of torque hits each wheel for optimal performance. BMW M discovered one of the benefits of the new engine during the first few kilometers of road testing, finding that the car could reach significantly higher cornering speeds.

BMW began development of a powerful engine almost before it moved to the test benches. The company is now ready for real hardware and software testing. The aim is to ensure that these models deliver the characteristics that have made the BMW M so iconic over the past 50 years - "linear build-up of pulling power and lateral dynamics that deliver controlled handling to the limit".

Not long ago, our publication wrote that BMW is developing a new hydrogen version of the BMW X5 together with TOYOTA. The German company was one of the first to set a course for the production of environmentally friendly cars, gradually abandoning variations with internal combustion engines that seriously pollute the atmosphere. However, BMW's plans for electric car production alone do not end there.

Autonews