An electric machine for direct drive or braking applications with coils providing improved power efficiency and heat transfer is disclosed. The electric machine has a coil body and a winding with a plurality of turns wound on the coil body. Each of the various turns is located in a separate plane. Respective end sections of two different turns are connected by a connecting element, with a major directional component of the connecting element being oriented in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of one of the two turns. Axially adjacent turns can thereby be connected to one another together. This arrangement reduces or eliminates empty spaces in the slots, particularly when the turns are made from flat wire.