BMW Xperience 2011 showcases BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive technology

The BMW Xperience was held on a specially designed test course in Gurgaon, just outside of India’s capital city Delhi. The test course, designed by international experts, included 10 simulated obstacles, each bringing out a unique feature of the BMW X range.

Participants were given the opportunity to drive the latest models in BMW’s X range, including the X5, the X6, and the new-to-India X3, over a series of obstacles such as hills, water crossings, steep slopes, and a man-made vertical climb, designed to test the xDrive’s Auto Hold and Hill Descent Control systems.

Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President BMW India, said, “BMW Group is a pioneer in creating new vehicle segments. The entire Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) was created by BMW. The BMW xDrive is one of the most advanced examples of a four-wheel drive systems in use today’s world. The BMW Xperience is a one of its kind event, being organized at such large scale in India. This is an exciting opportunity to experience the superiority of the BMW X range of SAVs in a stimulating and safe off-road environment.”

The BMW xDrive is an intelligent all-wheel drive system that monitors the driving situation constantly and distributes drive power smoothly between the axles. BMW xDrive splits drive variably to the front and rear axles to suit the driving situation and the surface. Under normal driving conditions xDrive works with a basic 40/60 torque split front and rear. If there is any sudden change in requirements on account of differences in the friction values between the road surface and the driven wheels or because of the driving situation, the torque split can be varied within a fraction of a second without the driver even becoming aware of the change.

In contrast to other manufacturers, who use all-wheel drive principally to make up for the shortfall in traction suffered by front-wheel-drive vehicles, BMW tunes its xDrive system to provide handling typical of rear-wheel drive. Even in normal situations on the road, all-wheel-drive BMW models send the lion’s share of drive to the rear wheels.

Intelligent and variable

Starting from a distribution between front and rear axle of 40:60 as is prevalent in normal driving situations, the power distribution can be altered to continuously variable levels. According to the requirements of driving dynamics, the power transmission proportion may vary between 50:50 and 0:100 per cent. Thus, xDrive uniquely enhances directional stability and driving dynamics when taking bends at speed.
Action, not reaction: xDrive "thinks" for the driver and acts instantaneously

With BMW xDrive reacting within fractions of a second, the system offers enormous advantages in terms of traction. When setting out on slippery ground, for example, the time-lag between the loss of wheel grip on the surface and the re-distribution of drive forces to wheels with grip is only a few milliseconds. And it thinks ahead too. As one drives, the xDrive analyses data from the on-board electronics systems such as speed, steering angle, torque output and other key factors – and calculates whether the vehicle can follow the driver’s wish or if it threatens to oversteer or understeer, thereby preventing the vehicle from swerving.

Increased driving dynamics and optimum traction in all conditions

On unsurfaced tracks, the BMW xDrive provides maximum traction as well as safe and fast acceleration. Individual wheel spin is suppressed with fast and variable alteration of the power distribution between front and rear axle. BMW xDrive always distributes drive power where it is required. With its outstanding versatility, it not only enhances traction in difficult road conditions but also improves driving dynamics on the road. In a car equipped with xDrive, the driver has the assurance that even under adverse road-surface conditions the torque split is always instantly optimised to provide the best possible traction and stability.