BMW Shows Us Heart: How Its New ECU Will Transform the Neue Klasse EV Experience

We get a spin in BMW’s Vision Driving Experience concept equipped with the automaker’s new Heart of Joy system controller.

BMW is on the brink of unveiling the first ever model built on its all-new Neue Klasse architecture—the platform that will underpin its next-generation electric vehicles. While we don’t know quite yet what the first of the Neue Klasse vehicles will be (reportedly it’s an X3-sized SUV), we’re gradually learning more about them, including how an iPad-sized black box is poised to transform how they’ll operate.

The box in question is BMW’s new “Heart of Joy” central computer, an overarching electronic control unit (ECU) system that’s designed to serve as the orchestrator of an exhilarating, software-defined experience for drivers, whether they’re carving up corners or cruising in plush comfort. We recently got a taste of what BMW’s joyful beating heart can help the car do at speed in a vehicle dubbed the BMW Vision Driving Experience—a high-performance four-door test car that serves as a rolling demonstrator of the German automaker’s bleeding-edge technology.

Our Vision Driving Experience, er, experience came at a private test track next to BMW’s Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, courtesy of professional motorsports driver Jens Klingmann. We rode shotgun with him and got a first hand account of all the thrills, instant acceleration, and advanced regenerative braking that drivers of BMW’s coming Neue Klasse vehicles will be able to eventually experience for themselves.

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At the Heart of It All

As software increasingly dictates how vehicles perform and feel on the road, BMW has decided to take more control of how those systems work and interact with each other—and at the heart of it all is the Heart of Joy. This compact powerhouse consolidates multiple systems that once operated independently of one another into one cohesive unit. Developed entirely in house, the Heart of Joy is powered by a custom code that orchestrates everything from precise torque delivery to seamless braking regeneration and charging management. Even better, it’s 10 times faster than BMW’s previous systems, enabling the automaker to push the boundaries of performance and control like never before.

Our wild side test ride in the BMW Vision Driving Experience left no doubt about how much BMW’s new tech stack will positively impact the at-limit performance of its coming EVs. Klingmann had the prototype carving up corners with minimal steering inputs while maintaining impeccable body control, showcasing the car’s superior precision and balance. Its power delivery proved just as impressive—instant torque from the electric motors surging to all four wheels and catapulting the sedan down the straightaways at a breathtaking pace. And when it came time to slow things down in a hurry, the Heart of Joy’s hardware and intelligent software helped deliver smooth, precise braking. While BMW says the Vision Driving Experience isn’t a vehicle meant to hit production, we couldn’t help but wonder if this wonder car will share anything with the upcoming 2027 BMW M3 Neue Klasse EV. It was that good on track.

From the passenger seat, it was blindingly clear that controlling the Vision Driving Experience was effortless for our professional driver. (At one point he even locked the two inside wheels to perform a hard-to-execute burnout.) But the Heart of Joy setup isn’t just about outright performance—it’s about efficiency, too. According to BMW, the system helps make its cars 25 percent more efficient under heavy or normal braking, maximizing energy recovery and sustainability.

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Four Hearts That Beat as One

While the Heart of Joy manages drivetrain, braking, and energy recuperation, three other equally advanced ECUs, each dedicated to a specific aspect of the driving experience, help control other mission-critical operations. Together, the quartet serves as the digital backbone for the Neue Klasse BMWs to come. One oversees automated driving, pushing the boundaries of safety and convenience. Another handles infotainment and comfort features, ensuring a seamlessly connected cabin experience. The fourth controls interior and exterior lighting, setting the mood and enhancing visibility with dynamic, adaptive illumination.

Speaking of illumination, one super-cool feature worth calling out was the Vision Driving Experience’s wheels that dynamically changed colors based on the vehicle's actions. They glowed green during acceleration, shifted to orange under braking, and turned blue during regenerative braking. Whether that feature makes it into a production car remains to be seen, but we wouldn’t bet against it.

Experiencing all this firsthand was a thrill, but the real anticipation lies in seeing how the myriad advancements and enhancement translate to the upcoming production vehicles.The first of BMW’s Neue Klasse models is reportedly expected by the end of 2025, and if it captures even a fraction of the performance and tech we experienced during our joyful, heart-pounding thrill ride in the test vehicle, we’re in for one heck of an all-new driving machine.