In BBA, BMW does not have the support of Volkswagen Group as strong as Audi, nor does it have a more comprehensive business system as Mercedes-Benz. However, this has objectively created BMW with the strongest sense of urgency and the most radical in the transformation of innovative business. Whether it is 20 1 1, the release of i3 electric vehicle, 20 15, the first use of "mixed reality" system for vehicle development, and 20 16, which put forward that "digitalization is the future", the L2-class assisted driving system and OTA upgrade technology were popularized in traditional automobile enterprises at the earliest scale.
Within BMW, the electric vehicle platform is divided into transition platform, strategic platform and cooperation platform. The previous BMW iX3 and the upcoming i4, i7 and 3 series pure electric vehicles are all based on a fuel-compatible, pure electric and plug-in chassis, which belongs to the transitional platform. Bmw iX is a product under the strategic platform, which represents the latest innovation of BMW's new design, autonomous driving, interconnection technology, electrification and service strategy.
From BMW iX, we can intuitively understand BMW's future design ideas and technical applications in electric vehicles.
Compared with the concept car iNEXT, iX continues the design concept and body proportion to the greatest extent, but only transforms some elements that cannot be applied to production cars at present in detail.
But the biggest controversy also comes from this. Compared with the SUV of BMW fuel car era, iX has changed a lot in style. The middle net of both kidneys is further elongated, close to occupying the height of the whole front face. The headlights of iX are the thinnest headlights in BMW's history. Correspondingly, there are also the same slender taillights. A similar design has also appeared on the BMW 5 Series, which was redesigned in the early and middle stages, but the BMW iX is obviously more extreme.
In terms of body proportion, iX has the length, width and height of BMW X5, the height of BMW X6 and the wheel size of BMW X7, plus the frameless door that first appeared on BMW SUV. This body proportion, which looks a bit like a recreational vehicle, needs to be re-adapted after getting used to the BMW fuel SUV.
At the same time, BMW iX also provides a sports version kit in appearance. In the sports version, the blue trim around the car body is replaced by black painting, and the design surrounded by front and rear is more fierce.
On BMW iX, you can see many minimalist design concepts, including a large number of cameras, radars, sensors, embedded door handles, windshield washer fluid filler under the front logo, and cameras under the logo.
This pursuit of minimalism is also reflected in the interior design of BMW iX. Except for an oversized double screen and a novel hexagonal flat-bottomed steering wheel, there are almost no redundant original parts in the whole instrument panel. Compared with the existing BMW models, the number of buttons on the iX car has been reduced by about 50%, and BMW has also given an image name to the technology to realize this design concept-Shy? Tech means hiding many advanced and complicated technologies, including replacing door handles with buttons, hidden air conditioning outlets, and audio integrated on the headrest of the seat.
However, the central platform area has not been simplified, and the iDrive crystal knob on the BMW X7 also appeared on the BMW iX. The combination of environmentally friendly fabrics and wood materials also makes BMW iX clearly visible from the traditional luxury material decoration and high-end technology exposure.
As early as the release of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz S-Class, public opinion showed great controversy about the minimalist design style of luxury flagship cars, and now this controversy reappears on BMW iX. However, BMW designers have their own views on this. They believe that in the next 5- 10 years, designers should live in the spiritual world, and the current design is not only to satisfy the present, but to lead the future trend. Similar things have been verified as early as the fourth generation BMW 7 Series designed by chris bangle.
The current controversy over BMW iX is also a reflection of BMW's efforts to break through the shackles of the original design and apply the latest research and development technology. BMW even changed the public opinion's consistent rational, introverted and rigid impression of German luxury brands through the release of iX.
Therefore, this pure electric SUV, which is expected to be put into production in BMW Dinggefen factory in the second half of next year and put on the market at the end of next year, is not only the first model under the brand-new pure electric platform, but also a reflection of the trend of luxury brands in the era of large-scale popularization of pure electric-no one wants to break through the existing rules and regulations more than BMW itself.
First, let's take a look at the three-electricity technology of BMW iX. BMW iX adopts the fifth generation eDrive electric drive system, which has been seen on the previous BMW iX3. It has the concept of modularization, which can take into account the needs of different models, and has applications in iX3, iX, i4 and other models.
On BMW iX, the maximum output power of the front and rear axle dual-motor drive system reaches 370kW, the acceleration time of 0- 100km/h is less than 5 s, the maximum capacity of the cobalt-free lithium battery pack integrated with CTP technology reaches100 kW h, the cruising range under WLTP standard exceeds 600km, and the energy consumption per 100 km is less than 21h.
Looking at the body structure again, it is obvious that the opposite door of iNEXT concept car can't be preserved in the production car, but the application of aluminum body frame and carbon fiber material is also the result of BMW's continuous exploration since i3. Another figure worth mentioning is that the drag coefficient of BMW iX has reached 0.25, which is very rare for a medium and large SUV.
Finally, look at the smart technology of BMW iX. As mentioned earlier, BMW attaches great importance to digitalization. As a brand-new technology flagship, BMW iX should naturally be a master of all intelligent technologies of BMW.
That's exactly what happened. BMW iX adopts a new generation of digital architecture and sensor system, and its data processing capacity is 20 times that of existing models, which can reach L3 level for assisted driving. At the same time, BMW iX is also the first model in BMW Group to adopt 5G technology, which can expand the future autopilot function through cellular technology V2X.
Compared with the technology and ingenuity that luxury brands generally emphasize in the era of fuel-powered vehicles, BMW emphasizes the process of digital development in the era of electrification to express its emphasis on digital strategy.
BMW is building a driving simulation center with 14 simulators, which can simulate and test vehicle dynamics from the early concept stage to the final functional verification stage. Known as Fasi by BMW engineers, this simulator can truly show all the motion states of the vehicle, and can generate 1 times gravity acceleration in both longitudinal and transverse directions, and its strongest acceleration ability can even reach the level of BMW M3.
At the same time, the development of BMW iX also created a precedent for cross-border cooperation with game companies. As early as 20 15, BMW and Epic? Games Game Company cooperated to develop a 3D model of a new car based on Unreal unreal engine. Employees all over the world can intuitively interact with design and technology through VR technology.
Globally, BMW has 6.5438+0.4 million vehicles equipped with interconnection function. From 2065.438+09, BMW began to collect the driving data of these vehicles, and the total mileage has reached about 65.438+05 billion kilometers. These real driving data, combined with BMW's technology in the field of vehicle digital development and machine learning technology, help the continuous iteration and development of BMW's automatic system.
Although it started late, compared with the 4.8 billion kilometers of real driving data collection released by Tesla in April this year, BMW's data volume is still very small. However, in the accumulation stage of L2-assisted driving, BMW has been at the forefront of traditional car companies, and the study of data accumulation and data correlation is a result that takes time.
Therefore, BMW iX is a proof of the integration of digital ability and traditional automobile engineering design, and it is also a comprehensive reorganization of BMW from vehicle design concept to R&D process to brand image renewal.
According to the plan, by 2023, BMW Group will provide 25 electric vehicles, more than half of which are pure electric vehicles. By 2030, BMW Group will sell 7 million electric vehicles. Therefore, whether it is the existing plug-in hybrid version based on fuel vehicles, pure electric vehicles such as iX3 and i4 based on transition platforms, or strategic electric vehicles such as iX, it is of great significance for BMW to occupy the new energy market in different periods.
As for today's controversy about BMW iX, whether it will translate into the future market's cognition of BMW's innovative achievements will naturally be answered by time after the mass production of iX next year.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.