BMW Neue Klasse EV Coupe Caught Testing in New Spy Photos

BMW’s futuristic Neue Klasse lineup of electric vehicles is starting to take shape, literally in this case. Here’s our first look at what the coupe version of BMW’s new battery-electric vehicle lineup will look like, and if our spies (and eyes) are to be believed, this prototype features independent hub-mounted motors. Long suggested as a natural evolution of the standard motor-axle setup offered by current EVs, hub motors have taken some development time to overcome a few inherent drawbacks, chief among them the amount of unsprung mass they add to each corner of the suspension.

What exactly is this all about? Well, take a close look at the prototype wheel below. Notice anything peculiar? If you’re saying “there’s no brake caliper,” you’re right. That’s because we’re probably not looking at the brake rotors here, but at the outer face of the hub-mounted motor, which likely integrates the hydraulic braking system into the assembly itself. We mentioned the weight issue above, but as you may have guessed, this setup poses the added challenge of dealing with the waste heat from the braking system. But remember, this is BMW, the company that invented “turbine” wheels.

What we know about this platform is currently largely outpaced by what we don’t know, but BMW hinted at some specs when the concept sedan was revealed in the second half of 2023. Compared to the current i4’s pack, BMW says its newly developed battery cells will offer 20 percent higher energy density and 30 percent faster theoretical charging speeds. And not only will the batteries be able to store more energy for a pack of the same size, but BMW says the vehicle’s overall driving efficiency will increase by up to 25 percent — and by up to 40 percent in winter thanks to a new heat pump. BMW estimates that will equate to a 30 percent increase in range over the company’s current-generation EVs.

Given that this prototype has what appears to be a production silhouette under all that camouflage, BMW can’t be far from ready to share details about its next-gen powertrains. We have to admit, we’re curious.

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