BMW’s portfolio contains a number of M-badged electrical vehicles, just like the iX M60, however each full-blown M mannequin launched so far has been piston-powered. That is set to alter within the coming years: BMW M has began testing a battery-powered, i4-based prototype with 4 motors.
The check mule is an evolution of the i4 M50 sedan with punched-out wheel arch flares and front-end elements borrowed from the M3/M4 duo. Whereas that is an attention-grabbing proposition by itself, it is what’s beneath the physique that counts: energy comes from 4 electrical motors (one per wheel) that ship through-the-road all-wheel-drive. BMW M hasn’t launched particulars like horsepower, weight, and driving vary, nonetheless.
BMW notes that assigning every wheel its personal motor unlocks a number of advantages together with exact, variable, and fast torque distribution. In idea, the prototype may be front-, rear-, left-, or right-wheel-drive. The motors are linked to a central management unit that displays a variety of parameters, like street circumstances and the driving model, and distributes torque accordingly. It might probably make adjustments in mere milliseconds.
There is not any phrase but on what the longer term holds for this wide-bodied i4. BMW explains that it is testing the prototype in real-world circumstances to collect knowledge concerning the powertrain and advantageous tune it, nevertheless it hasn’t introduced plans to carry the mannequin to collection manufacturing.
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