Over a century of history has made the 24 Hours of Le Mans one of the most demanding, respected, and talked-about races in the world, and several historic motorsport milestones have taken place at the event. This year, BMW is not only racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with its M Hybrid V8 endurance racing hypercar, but also unveiling a new concept car that previews the future of its M performance road cars: the new BMW M Concept Neue Klasse.
As BMW begins to roll out its Neue Klasse cohort of models, which sport a new design language and a suite of cutting-edge technologies, the question has been raised of what BMW’s M models will look like in the Neue Klasse era. With the new M Concept Neue Klasse, BMW is answering it.
The concept’s design combines the principles of BMW’s latest performance masterpieces, while incorporating the Neue Klasse design cues and the celebrated aspects of its long history of M cars. With wide wheel arches, an aggressive stance, muscular shoulder portions, and sharp lines, the new concept is a distinctly BMW M take on the Neue Klasse style. An all-electric concept, the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse features a unique outlet on the hood that helps cool the drivetrain, and yellow lighting details reference the BMW M Hybrid V8, which is also electrified.
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A Monza Red Metallic paint color emphasizes the performance-oriented character of the car, and it’s complemented by an interior that is unapologetic about its driver-focused design. Newly developed bucket seats offer support and are prepared for dynamic driving, and their use of natural fiber, which is also used for the exterior, aims at integrating sustainability into the M Concept Neue Klasse’s design. Creating a striking contrast, the seats are upholstered with Bathurst Blue and Berry Red Merino leather, echoing the iconic BMW M colors. The five-point belts add another accent of red, and the steering wheel introduces fine materials, specifically black nubuck, which is used for the first time in a BMW M vehicle.
Combining groundbreaking engineering and technology with a visceral sense of performance, the drivetrain of the new BMW M Concept Neue Klasse consists of four electric motors. The BMW M eDrive system is based on the Gen6 Neue Klasse technology, but was developed specifically for the future generation of all-electric BMW M vehicles. Thanks to the Heart of Joy computer system, the car makes the most of the highly advanced drivetrain, giving the drivetrain and brake systems wheel-specific control.
With 800V architecture and an energy content of over 100 kWh, the new BMW M Concept Neue Klasse has the potential to combine compelling performance with impressive driving range. For the future generation of Neue Klasse M performance cars, an M-specific version of sixth-generation cylindrical battery cells delivers both high power delivery and efficient charging. With a futuristic design that pays homage to a longstanding performance heritage, and a reveal on one of the world’s most sacred racing stages, the new BMW M Concept Neue Klasse is an exciting look forward at the near future of BMW’s all-electric performance cars.
Image Source: BMW