What's all this about?

BMW spreading its latest technology to its entire range. You see, BMW's i division isn't just about breaking new ground for electric vehicles (EVs) and then keeping the results all to itself, oh no. Innovations that are pioneered on cars like the i3 and the i8can make their way into regular vehicles in the line-up; just witness the Carbon Core centre of the 7 Series, for instance.

You should be bothered because the ‘hot’ version of BMW’s EV city car, the i3s, is going to donate its traction control system (TCS) to every BMW and MINI model that will be introduced from now on.

What, all of them?

Yes, all of them!

But doesn't the i3s only have about 180hp? How will its TCS cope with the grunt of an M5, for instance?

It will obviously be calibrated according to the potency of the car it is in. But BMW says that every front-, rear- or four-wheel-drive BMW and MINI can benefit from this flashy new TCS set-up.

What's so special about it?

BMW claims that the control process for the TCS is now calculated directly in the powertrain, instead of in a remotely-sited unit that requires longer signal paths to work. This means the TCS reacts 50 times quicker than conventional traction systems. Thish improves traction, driving stability in adverse weather and road conditions and acceleration out of tight corners, while also supposedly being better during Brake Energy Regeneration phases.

Anything else?

Peter Langen, head of chassis development at BMW, explained why the development of the TCS in the i3s would benefit the entire BMW range: "With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units."

Matt Robinson - 3 Jan 2018