German Car Zone

I agree, the fact that they are changing the names of the technology all the time is not helping either... but then again, they probably do this because we, as consumers, are more interested in flashy names than the actual technology behind, or so they say.

...or maybe the M-Specific differential used on the X6 M... Still BMW could make it easier for telling it as it is!

Though it all does sound like DPC...

To my knowledge the DPC differential on the X6 M is not specific to the M model only - it is the same as on the X6.

It is not an M-Diff a la M3 or M5 which are purely limited slip units - not being able to vector torque left to right.

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Nah, the more I read the more I'm certain that it's the other way round. The DPC diff is not part of this 7er's xDrive package. If it were, BMW would've made a song and dance about it in the same way Mercedes made much ado about nothing with the dubiously titled "Torque Vectoring Brake" on the S AMGs.

BMW used the term M-secific...marketing thing maybe..

So, you don't think they use Dynamic Performance Control? What the DPC actually does is switch power between left and right rear wheels and increase traction and lateral acceleration, bettering handeling. It would - have been nice incorporating DPC into the X-Drive on a 7er...

THEN AGAIN MARTIN IF YOU ARE CORRECT IN YOUR ASSEMENT THAT DPC IS NOT USED, I THINK IT'S STUPID IF BMW DEVELOPING SUCH TECHNOLOGY FOR ONE VEHIHCLE SERIES ONLY, I think you would agree?

I'm trying to remember now, this was not yesterday, mind you. But was not one of the major objections towards the Audi B5 A4 that it was very inconsistent through bends, altering between over- and understeer? It sounds very worrying from an inspired drivers perspective (well, other than the obvious flaw it being 4WD) that the bias should change mid-bend.

I mean, I can amost hear those small 1:s and 0:s think to themselves, "Oh dear, seems like those poor rearies are struggling with the grip, lets make this barge FWD..."

Ja, it was a while back but I do remember some of the details of the B5 S4 from my old Car and EVO issues. This was the car that most prominently exhibited the behaviour you describe.

This behaviour was not as a result of shifting torque front to rear but more as a result of the chronic understeer under power necessitating the driver to lift off and then the resultant weight-transfer oversteer occuring.

Sending power to the axle with the best grip - in this discussion around the 750i xDrive - is an altogether different situation. Here the electronic systems are actually enhancing the dynamic capabilities of the car in a corner by making the most of a good situation.

Thanks.

I guess the system will work decently in situations of inspired driving, as long as the shift is not that sudden. I mean, I think I would be rather disturbed if I, in the middle of a drift, would lose power on the rear wheels and instead gain massive traction in the front pair.

Probably very effective but, as we all know, effectiveness and an engaging drive are two all together different things.

I think I will have to take one of these for a spin