BMW Electric Vehicle winter testing: 2016 F87 M2 featuring some unreleased goodies

[Germanauto]

BMW has no choice but to develop an EV powertrain for this car, but hopefully an ICE model can continue to be offered even beyond the next generation. I guarantee there will be demand.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Very very interesting. I wonder how its affected the weight distribution...

[Dutch Devotion]

Aprils fool.

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by Dutch Devotion

Aprils fool.

but it's still March

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by lemetier

It's an old mule that's been repurposed.

If those are paddle shifters, what will these be repurposed for in a BMW electric vehicle ?

There are no gears in almost all electric cars (see for example here - "Do electric cars have gearboxes?").

And some car companies use paddle shifters for other purposes than gear shifting: modulating regenerative braking, (de)activate rev-match, (de)activate intercooler water-spray, etc. (see for example here - "Let's talk about the correct way to do paddle shifters").



Compare with 2016 F87 M2 (M-DCT):

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by lemetier

the de emissions disc in the windshield can be read with a decent resolution photo.

[brad850csi]

So it isn't actually a battery at all and just a race car chassis (hence the battery looking units) and has the exhausts in the same place as the concept?

[///M TOWN]

Definitely looks like a huge battery tray bolted to the bottom of the car

[sward]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

I am also concerned about the use of Swedish plates.
Standard is Munich or depending on location of the Werk.
Will need to investigate on whether this is officially BMW?
However they could be using local plates to throw off any investigation?

I ran the plate at the Swedish dmv, it's public information. This plate doesn't exist. But it could be because it's green which indicate that it is a dealer plate not registered to a specific car.

[12nine]

Paddle shifters and the emission disc are no hints for anything.
Just used what they can get on the parking lot
But I’m wondering if it is maybe connected with the integration of Motorsports to the M GmbH.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by 12nine

Paddle shifters and the emission disc are no hints for anything.
Just used what they can get on the parking lot
But I’m wondering if it is maybe connected with the integration of Motorsports to the M GmbH.

OK, then let them celebrate this milestone with a proper BMW M2 CSL !

...Oh wait, according to some, that car was already scheduled for release in March 2020.

Old screenshot (1J31 = model code for the EUR-spec M2 CS that went into production from March 2020 onwards):

(source: here)

Some thoughts on high performance cars in Europe and tightening emissions regulations inducing the use of electric vehicles:

Originally Posted by Artemis

The future: a car for Europe that's lower on emissions and a car for the rest of world that's higher on emissions.

In Europe, homologation of new car models is subject to compliance with the EURO 6 emissions regulations (street legal). EURO 7 will apply from 2025 onwards. And for car manufacturers it promises to be a more painful yank on the tightened thumb screws that time around. And as the volume of the party music will get another drop from 2025 onwards, late 2024 will be an interesting window of opportunity for car manufacturers to please oldskool car enthusiasts. BMW better speeds up the process in developing a G87 M2 CS or G87 M2 CSL.

But apart from EURO 6 emissions regulations (globally), over the past couple of years "eco taxes" have been trending in Europe (regionally): countries imposing additional taxes, calculated on the basis of a cocktail of parameters (engine displacement, power output, fuel type, EURO category, age and CO2 emissions). And the only way is up: countries keep increasing those environmental taxes as the years pass by. Officially - alike taxes on cigarettes - as an incentive to discourage buying high emissions cars, but also in some way as a new source of income for the public authorities. Furthermore, fiscal rules gradually discourage companies to buy high emissions cars and increase personal taxes of company directors using high emissions company cars (or the other way around: fiscal rules favoring the purchase of electric cars).

Also trending in Europe (locally): cities imposing bans or restrictions for older, more polluting cars (ANPR cameras installed at the town borders check cars: a ban violation gets automatically fined). Purpose: less pollution or noise in town. We don't know how the situation will evolve, but possibly it's only a matter of time before modern high performance cars also may be banned or restricted (i.e. admitted for city residents subject to a hefty annual "eco tax"): all it takes is just a city deciding to impose a tight CO2 limit (or scheduling the ban or restriction to allow some time to adapt). The more cities copying those city bans, the less usability to drive your fancy high performance cars in cities, and the more those cars will drop in value. A bit like in Medieval Times in Europe: to access bigger towns surrounded by wall borders, you were required to pay a toll (excise) at the town gates (granting a right of passage to town and use its infrastructure and facilities). Looks like that's about to return: the more emissions, the higher the modern day 'excise' (granting some kind of right to 'polluting' in town).

And you know what ? It works: I know several people who decided to refrain from buying 'top dogs' anymore. Car manufacturers are aware of this and invest more in developing electric cars. Petrol cars are headed for extinction and not everyone buying high performance cars only uses those on race tracks.

If that's the case, let there be no doubt: rules will be adapted, taxing the higher displacement harder. Car manufacturers may get away with smart moves only temporary, but won't manage to permanently outsmart the system - any such loophole will be closed in function of the purpose: lower emissions.

Same happened to the "fake hybrids" that popped up in recent years, those "e-Whatever" cars with a negligible electric range: initially hybrids benefited favorable fiscal rules, and so also cars like a LaFerrari, McLaren P1 or 918 Spyder were suddenly part of the 'hybrids' family. Well, closing the loophole didn't take that long: 'fake hybrids' are taxed again as much as a 'no-hybrids'. 'Real hybrids' still benefit, as was intended.

Same goes for big SUV cars that were initially registered as "lightweight trucks" to benefit from fiscal rules - also that loophole got closed.

[rojodo]

I received this email about a week ago[IMG][/IMG]⚡️⚡️[IMG][/IMG]

[rojodo]

Here it is!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by rojodo

Here it is!

That has nothing to do with the test vehicle in this thread, and it is off topic. Please use:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1808569

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

That has nothing to do with the test vehicle in this thread, and it is off topic. Please use:

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1808569

Yes but anyway congratulations.

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by brad850csi

So it isn't actually a battery at all and just a race car chassis (hence the battery looking units) and has the exhausts in the same place as the concept?

A punted beehive is what it is. Original Flavor was right, probably should cease discussion on this particular one.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Artemis

If those are paddle shifters, what will these be repurposed for in a BMW electric vehicle ?

There are no gears in almost all electric cars (see for example here - "Do electric cars have gearboxes?").

And some car companies use paddle shifters for other purposes than gear shifting: modulating regenerative braking, (de)activate rev-match, (de)activate intercooler water-spray, etc. (see for example here - "Let's talk about the correct way to do paddle shifters").

Attachment 2561838

Compare with 2016 F87 M2 (M-DCT):
Attachment 2561839

Thanks for the links as always

Regen is always a strong possibility

[JorgenM]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

When solid state batteries start coming out, it will be a game changer in that regard. Personally I would not buy an electric till they have that tech. It will make every current EV obsolete.

They are out already. MB is offering BEV buses with solid state batteries.

https://www.electrive.com/2021/03/03...state-battery/

Some temperature "issues", but expect progress to move fast.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by JorgenM

They are out already. MB is offering BEV buses with solid state batteries.

https://www.electrive.com/2021/03/03...state-battery/

Some temperature "issues", but expect progress to move fast.

Great article, thanks for posting. This part explains why the technology isn't being used in personal transportation vehicles yet:

We heard about the electric buses of your associated company BlueBus that are equipped with your technology. Are your solid-state batteries just doing sense in buses, or is an application in passenger cars or other commercial vehicles like transporters or trucks possible?

If you maintain the battery at a running temperature between 50 and 80 degrees Celcius, you may use it in any application. But to be honest, we were selling those batteries to PSA for a fun car that they created around 2015, but the commercial success was not there. Before you could use the car, you had to get the battery to the running temperature, which took some time. Being unable to use your car whenever you wish is not compatible with the mass market. That’s the reason why our product fits clients that use them constantly: 5 days a week for full-day operations. So this perfectly fits buses. Also, last-mile delivery trucks or industrial vehicles in harbours, ports and airports are well fitted to this use.

They also explain that they've been developing this technology over the course of decades. Eventually it will come to vehicles we'd buy for personal use, but we're not there yet.

Incidentally, we are firmly off topic (sorry, Artemis) so I will move this into a separate thread if folks wish to continue the discussion.

[Germanauto]

Per BMWBlog there is no 2-series EV in the pipeline at this point in time:

https://www.bmwblog.com/2021/03/26/no-bmw-2-series-ev/

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Per BMWBlog there is no 2-series EV in the pipeline at this point in time:

https://www.bmwblog.com/2021/03/26/no-bmw-2-series-ev/

Unless you take into account the Active Tourer.

[///M TOWN]

My next Sports car will definitely be 100% Electric

I am seriously curious to see what BMW M will come up with to make me want to replace my M2