Electric M test car pics & interview with Dirk Häcker, BMW M Head of Development

[Bumpinjeep]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Here's your first look.

Electrification opens up completely new degrees of freedom for us to create M typical dynamics.” Check the link in our bio for an interview with Dirk Häcker, Head of Development at BMW M GmbH.

Link to interview: https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/maga...ectrified.html

[Space Cadet]

Interesting times indeed.

[SoCali E36]

Burn it with fire

[chetrickerman]

Originally Posted by SoCali E36

Burn it with fire

Gasoline fueled fire! Not lithium, lol

[Luminor513]

This is inevitable. Once they can figure out how to manage the weight, all the high performance cars will be EV. The taycan is only the beginning.

[CurbBender'90]

You mean to tell me your not going to fix the front end design when you have a chance to recourse? Say no more BMW

[KoenG]

I'am pretty convinced that they will be able to convert this disruptive revolution into a success!

I'am just realising that it has become much easier for competitors to mimic it. Any day a new Chinese brand can emerge and claim to be the next pinnacle in vehicle dynamics. After all, the I6-RWD architecture with 50/50% has become much less a blueprint for success when you can just code new behaviour while having access to full torque vectoring and can put your batteries in the chassis of the car?

I'am really curious to know what they will do to convert an i4M50 into a real M... it's only software... not?

[NightWriter]

It's just an i4 test mule. Not sure what value they photos provide?

[Redd]

The digital watch revolutionized timekeeping when it was launched in the 70s. Much more accurate than mechanical watches, runs reliably and only needs battery changes every few years, and introduced tons of new features like lights etc (calculator anyone?).

Funny how old tech mechanical watches are just getting more and more expensive and special tho.

[SliChillax]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

It's just an i4 test mule. Not sure what value they photos provide?

It's obviously not? It's an M4 Gran Coupe in electric form, can't you see the wider body? Those rear fenders are huge.

[AndroidRobot]

These cars will be too heavy and not enjoyable. Vehicle dynamics are about more than how fast a car goes around a track. The feedback, chassis/steering feel and crisp handling is what matters in a sports car. I don't want a pig weighing 4-5000lbs, I was a light, nimble car that has ample power, but is communicative.

[Ambrozie]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

These cars will be too heavy and not enjoyable. Vehicle dynamics are about more than how fast a car goes around a track. The feedback, chassis/steering feel and crisp handling is what matters in a sports car. I don't want a pig weighing 4-5000lbs, I was a light, nimble car that has ample power, but is communicative.

Bigot.
Just kidding.
You will accept it as is or the gulag awaits


The grille should be larger, and the weight should be greater, in my opinion. I don't see why not. Styling and safety?

[kjx]

Originally Posted by CurbBender'90

You mean to tell me your not going to fix the front end design when you have a chance to recourse? Say no more BMW

"It is needed for… errr… engine cooling. We mean… drivetrain cooling. Trust us. We are BMW engineers."

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by SliChillax

It's obviously not? It's an M4 Gran Coupe in electric form, can't you see the wider body? Those rear fenders are huge.

Yeah, it's some type of hybrid, but regardless this isn't a masked product, it's a test mule.

[kjx]

Originally Posted by Redd

The digital watch revolutionized timekeeping when it was launched in the 70s. Much more accurate than mechanical watches, runs reliably and only needs battery changes every few years, and introduced tons of new features like lights etc (calculator anyone?).

Funny how old tech mechanical watches are just getting more and more expensive and special tho.

This is the best analogy ever. Nobody aspires to a digital watch. But it probably felt like the coolest, most futuristic thing ever when it first came out to a lot of people.

[AHall]

Looks like M4. Do they have to put camouflage on everything?

[Dr.Deep]

Originally Posted by kjx

This is the best analogy ever. Nobody aspires to a digital watch. But it probably felt like the coolest, most futuristic thing ever when it first came out to a lot of people.

It somehow is a good analogy, but at the same time it's not. There are two big huge factors that make the difference here.
One main reason that mechanical watches are that much desired is hand craftsmanship, rarity and thst they are mainly high luxury goods.

But the even bigger factor are governments and regulations. Nobody forced watch manufacturers to build digital watches, it was driven by new technology and possibilities to have more features in a watch, in the end people realized that they don't need all this on their wrists.

But car manufacturers are forced by regulations and governments to go the EV way. They would be more than happy to go on with loud and high volume engines and just make a lot of money without having to invest in new facilities and manufacturing tools and processes. But the world has changed, so cars are changing….

[Burrcold]

Makes me realize how much I would want a proper M4 GC (non electric).

[yousefnjr]

Can’t wait, going to make my g82 feel slow

[Sedan_Clan]

EV's won't catch on in the way greenies predict.

[eljay]

Originally Posted by AndroidRobot

These cars will be too heavy and not enjoyable. Vehicle dynamics are about more than how fast a car goes around a track. The feedback, chassis/steering feel and crisp handling is what matters in a sports car. I don't want a pig weighing 4-5000lbs, I was a light, nimble car that has ample power, but is communicative.

Don't you worry little froggy. We'll boil you gently. 😉

[AlexFL]

these front wheels look 295 or even wider - insane.