BMW has unveiled its Vision Driving Experience in Shanghai, merging high-impact driving displays with visually striking design work.
Centred around the BMW Vision Neue Klasse, the dynamic presentation took place at the West Bund Art Center, coinciding with the Auto China 2024 show in Beijing.
One of the brand’s latest concept vehicles was put through its paces in a choreographed demonstration of agility and traction. Guided by BMW test engineers and pro drivers, the showcase underlined how future-focused architecture can still deliver classic rear-wheel-drive (RWD) theatrics.
Dynamic DNA
A standout moment saw the Vision Neue Klasse perform a full lap in controlled drift, highlighting the concept’s advanced chassis control and drive software.
BMW says this spectacle was made possible by a purpose-built test track on the banks of the Huangpu River.
“The BMW Vision Neue Klasse embodies our approach to reinventing the driving experience,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “We’re showing how digitalisation, sustainability, and electrification can go hand in hand with the ultimate driving machine philosophy.”
Real-time chassis and drive control
At the core of this performance sits BMW’s new electronic architecture - specifically the 'Heart of Joy', the first of four vehicle 'Superbrains' developed for the upcoming Neue Klasse platform.
This high-performance control unit consolidates propulsion and chassis logic into a single system. Engine and suspension behaviour are no longer processed independently, allowing for an unprecedented one-millisecond response time.
The system also underpins BMW Dynamic Performance Control, which governs everything from energy recuperation to low-speed smoothness and high-speed traction.
According to BMW, it operates ten times faster than any previous-generation setup and forms the technical foundation for the brand’s next-generation dynamic experience.
Bold visual cues meet bespoke finishes
Beyond its dynamic capabilities, the Vision Neue Klasse model also features striking design elements.
The 'Joyous Bright' paintwork reflects light across its sculpted surfaces, while custom-made rims with BMW lettering milled into the alloy further individualise the car.
The high-gloss black roof contrasts dramatically with the rest of the body, and the kidney grille has been reimagined as a 3D-illuminated element within the front end’s digital signature.
Doubling down
With the Neue Klasse expected to form the basis of BMW’s next generation EVs from 2025, this Shanghai event was as much a branding exercise as it was a technical showcase.
The integration of performance, design and digital technology is set to define the Munich marque’s trajectory in a rapidly shifting global market.
