MUNICH: The BMW iNEXT crossover is undergoing further testing across the desert regions of South Africa ahead of series production in 2021.
Intensive test runs in the freezing cold at the polar circle are now being followed by a contrasting program in the Kalahari, where in addition to extreme heat and solar radiation, permanent dust formation and off-road terrain with its sand, pebble and gravel tracks torture-test BMW's technology flagship.
In this hot phase of the series development process, not only do the drive and suspension components of the iNEXT, a car designed for all-electric mobility, provide proof of their functional safety, durability and reliability, but also the car’s bodywork, interior, driver assistance systems and digitalisation technology.
The so-called hot climate tests are an integral part of a both extensive and varied development and test program within the framework of the series maturity process, which entails iNEXT prototypes being subjected virtually in time lapse to the stress of an entire vehicle service life.
Like every new BMW model, the vehicle’s way to serial maturity leads to the BMW Group proving ground at Miramas in southern France, the Nürburgring Nordschleife and other racetracks and to the Winter Center in Arjeplog, Sweden, as well as to desert regions with an extremely high level of heat and dryness.
BMW's Dingolfing plant will produce the series version once it's ready in 2021.
Designed as a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, the new model features fifth-generation eDrive technology. The car’s suspension control and driver assistance systems pave the way for a further step towards autonomous driving.
