All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

BMW revealed the new generation of eDrive technology

At the Tech Days in Landshut, BMW revealed details about its new high-voltage batteries and electric motors. This is the sixth generation of eDrive technology, which will be used in every electric car in the Neue Klasse series, and the first model with this technology will go into production this year at a plant in Hungary.

The new batteries have cylindrical cells with an increased energy capacity of 20 percent compared to the previous Gen5 prismatic cells. BMW will use 4,695 cells (46 mm diameter, 95 mm height) for the sedans and sports models, and 46,120 cells (120 mm height) for the crossovers. This will enable 30 percent faster charging and a 30 percent longer range, with some models having a range of up to 900 kilometers on a single charge, thanks to the switch to an 800-volt architecture.

The new batteries will also support bidirectional charging, which will allow the cars to be used as a source of energy for the home or even to feed energy back into the power grid. This will be done using the new Energy Master central control unit, which monitors the high-voltage and low-voltage power supply, processes battery data and is responsible for the safe operation of the entire electrical system.

BMW has already patented a number of new solutions for the electrical system, and the first car built on the new platform will be the next-generation BMW iX3, which will debut in September this year.

Source: BMW

News

BMW Vision Driving Experience equipped with “Heart of Joy”

The BMW Vision Driving Experience is an electric car that will debut at the Shanghai Motor Show, and is equipped with the Heart of Joy computer that will be in all future Neue Klasse cars.

Heart of Joy is a system that is 10 times faster than the previous control unit, which increases the precision and stability of future BMW cars in cornering. This system combines control of the drive, brakes, regeneration, charging and steering, which also allows for more efficient use of energy.

BMW has announced that it will not produce this system but will use it as a test platform for new technologies, and a special focus will be on whether the electronics can withstand 18,000 Nm of torque.

The prototype demonstrates the operation of the Heart of Joy computer using colors on the rims, where acceleration is shown in green, energy recovery in blue, and braking with friction brakes in orange. It should also be noted that BMW claims that the advanced regenerative braking system improves efficiency by 25 percent, and in most situations mechanical brakes may not be needed at all.

Source: BMW

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Tuning

Dacia Duster RS ​​with aggressive body kit

The Dacia Duster has been the best-selling car in Europe for a long time, and now the German company Carpoint NRW has presented a tuned version of this model. It is the Dacia Duster RS ​​(Redust Sport) based on the Duster Extreme model, with more aggressive aerodynamics.

The Duster RS ​​is equipped with a body kit that includes sills, a spoiler, a central dual exhaust, wider wheel arches, and a hood with a central air intake, while the roof racks have been removed. There are also KW shock absorbers and 20-inch discs for better and safer braking and stopping.

The cabin is equipped with leather-covered seats with orange inserts and thread, and a lot of decorations on the dashboard, door panels and steering wheel. For a better driving experience, there is also RGB lighting.

When it comes to the powertrain, Carpoint NRW has not changed anything. The Duster RS ​​is powered by a TCe engine with 130 hp (97 kW) and a 48V mild hybrid system, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, and a hybrid engine with 142 hp (104 kW) paired with an automatic transmission.

Speaking of price, the price of the standard Duster Extreme Hybrid is around 21,500 euros, while the tuned version costs almost twice as much. Buyers who opt for the mild hybrid version will pay 42,490 euros, while the hybrid version is slightly more expensive and costs 52,990 euros.

Source: Carpoint NRW

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Dacia Duster RS ​​with aggressive body kit