The 'Heart of joy' enables a tarmac-tearing 18000Nm, new supercomputer due in next-generation electric BMWs

BMW has been testing its mysterious Heart of Joy driving dynamics computing system in a prototype ahead of its roll out in new vehicles, and the results according to the German brand are “not just to the next level, but another one beyond that.”

First revealed to the world at the 2023 Munich Motor Show as a small black box the Heart of Joy is a computer, which manages many of a vehicle’s systems from steering, braking and suspension to power and battery usage. The plan is for the system to be installed in the next generation of all-electric cars that BMW calls its Neue Klasse.

Now BMW has revealed that it has been testing the Heart of Joy in a prototype vehicle called the Vision Driving Experience at a United States test track.

“The Heart of Joy enables us to take driving pleasure not just to the next level, but another one beyond that,” said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW, responsible for Development. 

“In addition, we are further increasing efficiency, and therefore boosting range, as in future the driver will brake almost exclusively using energy regeneration. This is Efficient Dynamics squared.”

Admittedly the Heart of Joy sounds mysterious and almost unreal, but according to BMW’s engineers the system makes real world driving more comfortable and smooth through the reduction of noise and vibration, and the clever incorporation of controls and functions due to lightning-fast computing.

Energy consumption is also improved. BMW said recuperation through braking and an integrated drivetrain returning a 25 per cent increase in efficiency.

The computing software for the Heart of Joy was developed by BMW with processing speeds claimed to be 10 times faster than previous systems.

“Working in tandem with the BMW Dynamic Performance Control software, the Heart of Joy computes all the driving dynamics functions with a whole new level of speed and precision,” BMW’s press release reads.

 “The software has been developed entirely in-house on the back of experience in the field of driving dynamics amassed by BMW engineers over more than a century.”

The Vision Driving Experience vehicle, which is being tested at BMW’s Spartanburg test track in the US, can develop up to 18,000Nm. Well, that’s the theoretical limit of the computing software and its ability to manage all that torque. That’s about the same amount of torque produced by a top fuel dragster and in reality unlikely to appear in any road car soon.

The Vision Driving Experience vehicle, which BMW is clear to point out is for testing the software only, won't turn into a production vehicle. That said the Vision Driving Experience vehicle will make it world premiere at the 2025 Shanghai motor show in April.