The X6 will serve as the introductory vehicle for a new technology BMW calls Dynamic Performace Control (DPC) which is a further development of the company's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Similar in concept to Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), DPC apportions engagement of the rear wheels from side to side based on need, and like the Acura system, it can rotate the outside wheel faster than the inside wheel in hard cornering, thus improving cornering speed.
Unlike the Acura system, need is determined on the basis of yaw instead of wheelspin, and DPC operates by clutches, so engagement is constant rather than throttle-dependent. Together with BMW’s various stability and traction control systems, DPC seems to make the X6 exceptionally stable on low-adhesion surfaces and also seems to give the vehicle nearly neutral handling, although understeer will prevail at the limit.
BMW development engineers say they could have programmed the system to be more aggressive (read “oversteer”) but settled on mild understeer to help keep their customers from running out of talent (read “avoidance of product-liability lawsuits”).
As noted, DPC will debut with the X6 next summer, but BMW plans to make it available on other all-wheel-drive models, including sedans, beginning with the 2009 model year.
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