Pushing the Boundaries of Driving Physics with 18,000 Nm Torque and Fluorescent Brilliance
Munich/Shanghai – Just days before Auto Shanghai 2025, BMW stunned audiences with a spectacular demonstration of its latest innovation: the BMW Vision Driving Experience (VDX) — the most powerful prototype the brand has ever built. This high-performance test vehicle is not only a technical masterpiece but also a glimpse into the electrified future of BMW’s Neue Klasse lineup.
⚙️ Heart of Joy – The New Super Brain of BMW
At the center of this engineering marvel lies the “Heart of Joy”, BMW’s revolutionary central control unit. This ultra-fast supercomputer calculates and coordinates all driving dynamics functions — driving, braking, recharging, and even steering. Debuting visibly in the VDX’s center console, the Heart of Joy will become standard in all upcoming Neue Klasse vehicles.
“With up to 18,000 Nm of torque, the VDX showed Joy of Driving in its purest form,” said Jochen Goller, BMW Board Member for Customers, Brands, and Sales.
🔥 Performance on the Edge
Piloted by BMW’s expert test drivers Jens Klingmann and Elias Houndtonji, the VDX wowed crowds with extreme maneuvers that flirted with the limits of physics. Sporting Formula 1-level specs like:
- 1.2 tonnes of downforce
- 3g lateral forces
- 98% brake energy regeneration
- 25% increased efficiency vs current platforms
The VDX serves as the ultimate stress test for BMW’s next-gen electric systems. If it can tame these forces, it can conquer the daily road with ease.
🌈 A Showstopper in Neon
Stealing the spotlight was the self-illuminating paint of the VDX — a technological and artistic marvel. This fluorescent finish charges with daylight and glows in the dark, shifting from whitish yellow to neon yellow, while a UV-activated “magic film” sweeps from orange to pink across the body.
Built for testing, not production, the VDX still reflects the future BMW design language:
✔️ Monolithic silhouette
✔️ “Shark nose” front end
✔️ Recessed greenhouse & bold wheel arches
🔋 Neue Klasse: The Future Begins
Set to roll off the line in Debrecen, Hungary, by late 2025, the first Neue Klasse EVs will bring the Heart of Joy to the streets. The VDX gives us a thrilling taste of what’s to come — combining brute electric force, intelligent control, and aesthetic innovation.
