Newshot So Sweet: BMW to Give the i3 M60 a Simulated Gearshift System It Once Called a "Gimmick"
IT之家 November 13 news: According to a report today (the 13th) by foreign media outlet motor1, BMW will develop its own simulated gearshift system, with plans to debut it first on the i3 M60 xDrive next year.
When Hyundai introduced this technology on the IONIQ 5 N a few years ago, BMW still regarded it as an "interesting gimmick."
Instead of using the traditional concept of "gears," BMW calls its various simulated gears "Stages." At the international launch event for the all-new 3 Series and i3, BMW senior vehicle dynamics engineer 克里斯蒂安 Hais recalled the company's initial attitude toward simulated shifting: "We've seen this technology before, for example at Hyundai. At the time we thought, isn't this just an interesting gimmick? We're already in the pure electric era, so why imitate combustion-engine cars?"
In the end, the engineers responsible for vehicle dynamics development convinced their colleagues, proving that simulated shifting is not merely about making EVs drive like combustion-engine cars. One practical use of the technology is helping the driver judge speed more accurately before entering a corner on the track.
亚历山大 Kalayilovic, head of development at BMW M, explained that a traditional gearbox can provide feedback to the driver through gear changes, which is precisely what EVs typically lack. BMW wants to retain the advantages of traditional gear shifting while avoiding the drawbacks of a traditional gearbox.
BMW's solution differs from Hyundai's N e-Shift system in one important respect: the simulated gears do not affect torque output. The all-electric M3 delivers the same torque regardless of which simulated gear it is in.
Drivers can enjoy the engagement that comes with shifting gears without sacrificing performance. BMW hopes to add driving fun through simulated shifting rather than artificially limiting power.
According to IT之家, to refine this feature, BMW also tested the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N and other high-performance EVs, studying the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches.
The test results led BMW to decide to continue with its own development, and the final solution is not the same as Hyundai's N e-Shift. "What we ended up with is very close to a simulated gearbox, but we don't call it that. Our design approach is a bit different, but anyone who is looking forward to simulated shifting should be satisfied, and hopefully the actual experience will exceed their expectations."
BMW has not yet announced exactly how many gears the simulated gearshift system has. It is understood that the i3 M60 will also be equipped with simulated sound to accompany the shifting action. In terms of power, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive i3 M60 xDrive is expected to match the iX3 M60, with a maximum output of 603 hp and peak torque of 875N·m.
Because the sedan is lighter than the SUV, the i3 M60's 0–100 km/h acceleration is expected to be slightly quicker than the iX3 M60's 3.9 seconds. For reference, the iX3 M60 has a top speed of 240km/h and a WLTP range of 754km.
Simulated shifting will not be standard across the i3 lineup. Hais confirmed that the feature will be offered only on M Performance models, starting with the i3 M60.
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