These Next-Gen BMWs Will Receive Updates Quicker Than Your iPhone | Carscoops

      BMW’s Neue Klasse models are set to offer enjoyable handling, quick over-the-air updates, and continuous advancements, with new features being introduced multiple times each year.

      By 2027, BMW plans to launch 40 models equipped with next-generation software and electronics.

      Central to these new vehicles is the Heart of Joy high-performance control unit.

      The volume of software has increased fourfold compared to existing BMWs, allowing for swifter updates.

      The second-generation BMW iX3 is not only a more refined and capable successor to its predecessor, but also the inaugural model in the Neue Klasse series, which will guide the brand’s trajectory over the next ten years. This transition is fundamentally rooted in software. Munich emphasizes that the digital foundation of these vehicles will play a crucial role in their progression, with the iX3 being engineered to accept as many as three significant updates annually.

      BMW positions the Neue Klasse as a substantial technological advancement, partly due to what it calls the “Heart of Joy”, a high-performance control system that will be utilized in all future models. This unit works in conjunction with BMW’s proprietary Dynamic Performance Control software, managing all driving-related functions within milliseconds, which includes wheel and steering control.

      Munich asserts that this technology delivers more than mere specifications. Christoph Grote, BMW’s senior vice president of electronics and software, mentioned to Automobilwoche that the iX3 feels lightweight, precise, and even fun on the road.

      “I hardly know of a BMW driver who has exited the New Class iX3 after some laps on the handling course without a big smile,” he said. “It’s hard to describe. You need to experience it. The car handles effortlessly, almost playfully, and with unparalleled precision.”

      Always Evolving

      However, BMW also highlights the long-term potential. Every electronic component in the Neue Klasse is built for over-the-air updates, ensuring that the iX3 will acquire new functionalities long after it has left the production line. This will apply to all future models in the Neue Klasse series as well.

      “Most competitors can only update their infotainment systems, but we can update the entire vehicle – including all control units, drive system, charging, ADAS… This is a crucial feature for Software Defined Vehicles,” Grote stated.

      “Compared to our current production models, the software volume in the New Class vehicles is approximately four times greater. Hence, it’s beneficial that we already possess extensive experience with over-the-air updates and that in the future, installing updates in a BMW will also take around 20 minutes – across all drive types.”

      BMW’s next-generation electronic systems are expected to be incorporated into 40 models by the close of 2027, all designed to benefit from regular updates.

      “On the functional side, we’re continuously enhancing for our customers. We intend to implement three updates each year, which will also provide tangible, new features to our clients,” Grote explained regarding the iX3. “This enables us to keep the vehicles appearing fresh for a prolonged period without needing physical modifications to the car itself. Our customers will witness numerous exciting innovations in the New Class vehicles in the years ahead.”