Digital Dawn: BMW’s Neue Klasse Ushers in a New Era of Software-Defined Vehicles with Four “Superbrains” and a Zonal Architecture: BMW is taking a significant leap forward in automotive technology with the introduction of a completely redesigned digital nervous system for its Neue Klasse vehicles. This revolutionary system, featuring four high-performance computers, or “Superbrains,” consolidates computing power for key customer functions, including infotainment, automated driving, driving dynamics, and basic vehicle operations. This architecture, offering over 20 times the computing power of current generations, is designed to accommodate future software and function updates, including AI-powered customer experiences. A radically simplified zonal wiring harness, reducing weight by 30% and wiring by 600 meters, further contributes to the system’s efficiency and performance. This technological leap will scale across all drivetrain variants, solidifying BMW’s position as a leader in software-defined vehicles.
Superbrains Synergy: Consolidating Power for Enhanced Performance: The four “Superbrains” represent a paradigm shift in automotive computing, consolidating the processing power for critical vehicle functions. These computers are designed to handle the complexities of modern automotive software, including AI-driven features and over-the-air updates. The zonal wiring harness architecture, dividing the vehicle into four zones (front, center, rear, and roof), streamlines data flow and reduces weight. High-speed data connections link the Superbrains to zonal controllers, which manage and consolidate data from the electronics within each zone. This system enables shorter, thinner, and lighter wiring, contributing to the vehicle’s overall efficiency.
Smart eFuses and Energy Efficiency: A Digital Approach to Power Management: A crucial component of the new architecture is the implementation of “Smart eFuses,” digital fuses that replace up to 150 traditional fuses. These programmable fuses allow for digitally controlled energy distribution, enabling intelligent power modes for various vehicle states. The selective activation of components contributes to a 20% improvement in energy efficiency, optimizing power consumption during driving, parking, charging, and upgrades. This digital approach to power management is a key factor in the Neue Klasse’s enhanced performance and efficiency.
Software Continuity: A Foundation for Future Innovation: The advanced software architecture of the BMW Group, built on the new electronic architecture, ensures software continuity. With a multitude of digital functions in SDVs, continuous development on stable software platforms is crucial. The “Shared Service Layer” acts as middleware, providing state-of-the-art cybersecurity and flexible over-the-air updates. The development teams are working on over 1,000 software modules, over 20 GB of software, and over 500 million lines of code, which will be integrated into the Superbrains. The “CodeCraft” integrated developer environment, running in the cloud, supports the simultaneous work of over 10,000 software developers, achieving a productivity increase of more than 130 times compared to ten years ago.
Neue Klasse’s Digital Revolution: A Leap into the Future of Automotive Technology: The Neue Klasse, with its four “Superbrains,” zonal wiring harness, and advanced software architecture, marks a significant milestone in automotive technology. BMW’s commitment to technology openness and software continuity ensures that its future models will remain digitally up to date, offering customers a seamless and innovative driving experience.
Summary:
- BMW introduces four “Superbrains” for its Neue Klasse vehicles.
- Consolidated computing power for key customer functions.
- Zonal wiring harness architecture reduces weight by 30% and wiring by 600 meters.
- Smart eFuses enable digital power management and improve energy efficiency.
- Advanced software architecture ensures software continuity and over-the-air updates.
- “CodeCraft” integrated developer environment supports global software development.
- Neue Klasse vehicles feature AI-powered customer experiences.
Disclaimer: Specifications and features are based on pre-production development and are subject to change. Future vehicle technology and performance may vary. Information regarding future vehicle models should be considered preliminary.
Source: BMW
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini
