“Intelligent” means using all-wheel drive when you really need it.
Benefiting from the intelligence of BMW xDrive, the driver uses the advan*tages of four drive wheels only when he really needs them. In other words, BMW’s all-wheel-drive system prevents the disadvantages of conventional systems, making the xDrive models just as agile and dynamic in everyday motoring as BMW’s rear-wheel-drive models. So it is fair to say that BMW xDrive sets the standard in the all-wheel-drive segment.
On the road BMW xDrive offers significant improvements in terms of agility, driving pleasure and safety over conventional all-wheel drive, the DSC dynamic control system intervening only when required at a far later point than usual. A further advantage of xDrive is better traction on loose or
slip*pery surfaces, power being fed directly to the wheels with grip as soon as one of the wheels threatens to spin and thus loose traction.
The “heart” of BMW xDrive: the electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch.
The “heart” of BMW xDrive is the electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch within the power divider ensuring a smooth flow of power within frac*tions of a second. In an extreme case the front and rear axles may indeed be completely separated from one another or firmly connected as one “so*lid” unit acting just like a 100 per cent longitudinal lock on conventional all-wheel drive.
Offering electronic brake intervention, DSC Dynamic Stability Control acts in the same way as a transverse lock distributing engine power to the two front and, respectively, rear wheels: As soon as a wheel starts to spin with*out conveying engine power, the brakes are applied automatically to slow down the wheel as required. In that case the axle differential automatically conveys more power to the wheel on the other side of the axle.
