BMW Neue Klasse EV Coupe caught testing in new spy photos

BMW's futuristic Neue Klasse EV family is starting to take shape — literally in this case. This is our first look at what will be the coupe version of BMW's new battery-electric lineup, and if our spies (and our eyes) are to be believed, this prototype is sporting independent, hub-mounted motors. Long suggested as a natural evolution from the standard motor-and-axle layout offered by current EVs, hub motors needed some development time to overcome a few inherent disadvantages, key among them the amount of un-sprung mass they add to each suspension corner.

What exactly are we on about here? Well, look closely at the wheel on the prototype below. Notice anything peculiar? If you said "there's no brake caliper," you'd be correct. That's because we're probably not looking at brake rotors here, but the outer face of the hub-mounted motor, which likely incorporates the hydraulic braking system into the assembly itself. We mentioned the weight issue above, but as you might have already surmised, this configuration imparts the additional challenge of managing waste heat from the braking system. But remember, this is BMW — the company that made "turbine" wheels a thing.