Author: Twin-turbocharged Chubby Boy

Let’s start with a question: Has the era shaped us, or have we shaped the era?

If you ask me, I tend to believe it’s the latter.

We live in an era of technological explosion, and the auto industry is no exception. Intelligence and electrification have announced the end of the traditional gasoline-powered era and the beginning of the intelligent electric vehicle era. In other words, the times are changing.

As one of the leading brands in the gasoline-powered era, BMW is also constantly conducting its own “electrification offensive”.

Yesterday, I met the innovative BMW iX and the innovative BMW i4, which made its debut in the domestic market, again in the “Beyond Electric BMW i Inspiration Space” located in the Beijing World Trade Center.

Sensibility in the Era of Change

Speaking of the innovative BMW iX, which will be officially launched at the end of this year, many of us are already familiar with it. When it made its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year, we interpreted it up close:

However, no matter how many times I have seen it, this car always gives me an emotional feeling.

Most cars on the market usually give people a cold feeling, making them think without hesitation: “It’s a machine.” But is that really what a car should be?

I don’t know if there are people like me who always turn on the air conditioning and listen to music when they come back home at night, just to get a little comfort. Exaggeratingly, I might be more suitable to marry a car… So, besides looking good and driving well, what I hope for in a car is a little less coldness.

Although I haven’t driven the innovative BMW iX yet, it’s undoubtedly the “warmest” BMW I have ever seen.

“Nature” In the Era of Change

If the term “hard to change nature” is more like a derogatory term, why can’t cars in the era of intelligence and electrification retain a bit of “nature”?

The innovative BMW i4’s debut model in China is the M50, which continues the essence of the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe and the design details of the i brand. In addition to showcasing the identity of the i brand, the addition of these details also makes the BMW i4 M50 model’s air resistance coefficient as low as 0.24cd through aerodynamic design.

The innovative BMW i4 will provide two versions of eDrive40 and M50, equipped with fifth-generation eDrive electric drive technology. The electric motor of the M50 model has a maximum output of 544 horsepower, a peak torque of 795N·m, and an acceleration of 0-100km/h in just 3.9 seconds. At the same time, the WLTP driving cycle allows for a range of 510km.

At the same time, BMW has also collaborated with Hans Zimmer to create a simulated sound for this innovative BMW i4.

In addition to power and endurance, the innovative BMW i4 is equipped with the same integral floating surface screen and iDrive 8.0 system as the innovative BMW iX.

The innovative BMW i4’s floating effect of the curved screen is slightly inferior to the innovative BMW iX, due to differences in interior design. Moreover, the interior of the innovative BMW i4 does not look as “warm” as that of the innovative BMW iX, but more like a “cyber” style.

In the iDrive 8.0 system, BMW has provided many localized features, such as deeply customized QQ Music, Himalaya, and other ecological content. At the same time, it also includes Tencent’s small scenes, providing faster and richer ecological services, and making the infotainment system more “lightweight.”

Similarly, the innovative BMW i4 still retains the Apple Wireless CarPlay phone projection function.

In the era of internal combustion engines, most Bimmers favored driving pleasure, acceleration, handling, and engine noise. Every precise cornering and every turn of the steering wheel brings joy. Therefore, the appearance of BMW’s first all-electric four-door coupe, the innovative BMW i4, is BMW’s preservation and release of its “nature” in the changing times, and also expands the product lineup of the i brand.

Step On The Accelerator

With the launch of the innovative BMW iX and the innovative BMW i4, BMW Group is comprehensively promoting electrification strategy and product line expansion, entering the second phase of electrification transformation.

According to BMW Group’s plan:

• BMW Group will also continue to launch many pure electric car models such as the BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series, BMW X1, etc.;
• by 2023, BMW Group will offer approximately 13 pure electric car models worldwide, which will cover almost every segment market that the BMW brand enters.## DIE NEUE KLASSE

In 2025, BMW Group will enter a new stage of electric development, launching the sixth generation of BMW eDrive electric drive system, which will be deployed on the “DIE NEUE KLASSE” vehicle series.

Before 2025, BMW will release prototype vehicles that use solid-state batteries and will apply the technology to production vehicles before 2030.

By the beginning of 2030, all MINI models will be fully electrified. At the same time, pure electric vehicle models are expected to account for half of BMW Group’s global sales.

Over the next 10 years, BMW Group expects to complete the delivery of approximately 10 million pure electric vehicles worldwide.

DIE NEUE KLASSE

Many people may not be familiar with the term DIE NEUE KLASSE, which translates to “NEW CLASS” in English. This is not only a slogan set by the BMW Group for its transformation to electrification.

In the 1960s, the post-war economic slump had once plunged BMW into its “darkest moment.” With the great reform of BMW, the 1500 series product, once called NEUE KLASSE, enabled BMW to “rise from the ashes.”

After more than 60 years, when BMW once again cried out DIE NEUE KLASSE, I believe that many people like me can see BMW’s determination to transform and reform.

So, is the era deciding our fate, or are we shaping the era? The answer is clear. The era may shape our lives, but it is also up to us to drive changes and innovations.

This is human sensibility and nature. Our memories of the past will continue to coexist with the continuous expansion of “DIE NEUE KLASSE.”

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.