BMW HypersonX also makes the Neue Klasse acoustically unmistakable.

The sound of tomorrow’s sheer driving pleasure: HypersonX is about to set new standards in acoustics in the BMW Group’s Neue Klasse vehicles by introducing a totally innovative soundscape. Developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, HypersonX is controlled via the BMW Operating System X to deliver drive sounds that automatically adapt to suit the situation. From relaxed Personal Mode to dynamic Sport Mode, the result is an immersive acoustic backdrop that combines with the BMW iDrive to deepen the power and emotiveness of the holistic user experience.

Due for launch in late 2025, BMW’s fully electric Neue Klasse models will take to the roads not just with a fresh design and powerful driving dynamics but with a completely new soundscape as well. HypersonX is just one part of the holistic concept around the smart operating and display system that is the BMW Panoramic iDrive and turns every drive into an entirely new acoustic and tactile experience. It’s all made possible by the new audio architecture, based on the intelligent BMW Operating System X, and a specially developed control unit. Working in concert, these components deliver a striking depth and breadth of sounds.

Developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, the new sound concept encompasses 43 new audio signals plus new driving sounds for Personal and Sport Modes. The spectrum automatically adapts to suit the situation, creating a sound experience that is far more than just an audio accompaniment: it is an emotional interaction between driver and car.

“The unique sound spectrum of HypersonX plays a major role in giving the model its own, highly distinctive acoustic character. By focusing on precision, warmth and lightness, we can create a direct emotional connection between the driver and their vehicle,” explains Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound Design BMW Group. To do this, the team made the conscious decision to reduce the number of basic sounds while introducing a further acoustic level – with more depth, colour and noticeably more precision. The driving sounds in both Personal and Sport Mode have been distilled to the essentials, inspired by natural sounds and structures in art and science. More than ever, the new sound embodies typical BMW driving pleasure – not just as background noise but as a palpable part of the driving experience.

It’s all made possible by the aforementioned audio control unit, which was specially developed for the Neue Klasse. This expands the dynamic range considerably and allows spatial modulation of the drive sound. So, when accelerating, the vehicle seems to move through different three-dimensional layers of sound. The modulated engine sound creates a feel of typical BMW driving dynamics inside the car.

The sound design team have also reinvented sound signals for when the car is not driving – such as the welcome sound as users get in. This was created by a choir of employees recording short messages for personal moments of joy in their native languages at the BMW Group Sound Design Studio. The sound designers then extracted some samples from what they said, combined them with medium- to lower-frequencies and then integrated them into the overall composition. This, coupled with precisely orchestrated lighting, creates an acoustically and visually harmonious setting for getting into the car that’s intuitive, human and full of warmth.

The HypersonX soundscape as a whole is based on a new algorithm that generated more than 9 million sound instances using BMW’s sound DNA. From this massive pool of sounds, the team then selected several that suit the character of the Neue Klasse: clear, pared-back, expressive – and typically BMW.