BMW is redefining automotive intelligence with the launch of an entirely new digital nervous system for its future Neue Klasse vehicles. This innovative system combines four high-performance computers, or “Superbrains,” that improve infotainment, automated driving, driving dynamics, and core vehicle functions. These Superbrains provide more than 20 times the computing capacity of the current vehicle generation and are engineered to enable future software upgrades, including AI-based improvements.

A Scalable and Modular Architecture

Frank Weber, Development Board Member for BMW AG, highlights the openness of the brand towards technology: “With the first model of the Neue Klasse, we will introduce these innovations into all future BMW models and keep them digitally updated with over-the-air upgrades.”

This architecture separates vehicle hardware from software design, enabling ongoing development in all drivetrain variants and model segments.

Zonal Wiring Harness: Lighter, Smarter, More Efficient

One of the critical elements in this revolution is the zonal wiring harness that minimizes wiring length by 600 meters and decreases weight by 30% from the preceding generations.

The car is also separated into four different zones—front, center, rear, and roof—that are each controlled by zonal controllers linked to the Superbrains. This minimalistic approach increases the efficiency of data flow as well as complexity reduction.

Smart eFuses: The Energy Distribution of the Future

Replacing a maximum of 150 conventional fuses, BMW’s Smart eFuses facilitate intelligent, digitally regulated energy distribution. The eFuses automatically optimize power modes for driving, parking, charging, and updating, turning off non-essential consumers to boost energy efficiency by 20%.

Software-Defined Vehicles and the Future of BMW

BMW’s software design is based on a solid foundation that enables constant updating instead of total redevelopment for every new model. Christoph Grote, Senior Vice President BMW Group Electronics and Software, emphasizes this change: “With the Neue Klasse, we are embracing software continuity, ensuring that our global development teams can focus on product innovations.”

CodeCraft: A Next-Gen Developer Ecosystem

BMW’s worldwide software development infrastructure has expanded exponentially, churning out 130 times as much software as it did ten years ago.

The company’s integrated development environment, CodeCraft, operates on 75,000 virtual CPUs, supporting more than 10,000 developers. It supports up to 200,000 software builds a day, a huge jump in productivity and innovation.

Looking Ahead

BMW Neue Klasse is marking a revolution of vehicle intelligence, efficiency, and software innovation. By leveraging sophisticated computing prowess, a slimmed-down electrical architecture, and an innovative software development environment, BMW guarantees its forthcoming models at the cutting-edge forefront of tech evolution. The very first purely electric Neue Klasse model to enter production later this year at Debrecen in Hungary means that the motor world is observing the beginning of an era in terms of digitization.