ALPINA B7 ALLRAD xDrive Announced - Debut at New York Auto Show

THE NEW BMW ALPINA B7 BITURBO ALLRAD

For the first time, ALPINA combines its powerful, torque-laden flagship with an optional all-wheel-drive system for even more traction and active safety in every and any driving situation.

The B7 Bi-Turbo with all-wheel-drive exploits the technical potential of BMW's xDrive System and its intelligent and dynamic distribution of drive power. It continuously and fully variable distributes torque between the front and rear axle within milliseconds.

ALPINA's unique mapping of the torque distribution markedly enhances driving dynamics and agility, especially when cornering, enabling unexpected levels of sporty handling. In addition to offering maximum available traction under acceleration, the system provides exceptional levels of active safety by constantly monitoring the driving situation and distributing torque accordingly.

The all-wheel-drive system is linked to the B7 Bi-Turbo's many electronic control systems, meaning it can offer an unusually broad spectrum of dynamic driving experiences, just like our demanding customers expect. Unique: in combination with the electronic suspension, consisting of Variable Damper Control and Dynamic Drive (active roll stabilisation), the driver can influence the dynamic torque distribution of the all-wheel-drive system using the Drive Dynamic Control buttons to select between the programs.

Comfort / Normal: set-up for maximum safety and comfort, handling is decidedly forgiving and sudden changes in direction will be met by mild understeer.

Sport: facilitates a more assertive driving style with the active role stabilisers programmed to neutral handling with reduced understeer.

Sport+: skilled drivers will particularly enjoy that in this program the torque bias is shifted predominantly to the rear wheels, enabling levels of lateral acceleration and a super-sporty driving style unheard of luxury saloons. In addition, the DSC automatically goes into DTC mode, reducing the intervention of the electronic stability program and allowing more slip at any of the driven wheels.

Regardless of whether Comfort, Normal or Sport is selected, the system recognises lateral acceleration above 0.5 m/s2 as resolute and sport-oriented driving and increases the torque shifted to the rear wheels, without reducing stability.

The instantaneous and fully variable torque distribution remains active regardless of the selected program and constantly delivers the highest levels of traction and active safety in every situation, such as when driving on very mixed road surfaces.

Despite the B7 Bi-Turbo's high level of torque, intervention of the DSC stability control system by applying the brakes or by reducing engine output, is only seldom necessary because the intelligent torque distribution is extremely effective at neutralising any indication of under- or oversteer at the onset.

The B7 Bi-Turbo Allrad tracks in and out of all corners as if on rails - levels of steering lock, lateral acceleration, yaw rates and speed are constantly dictating how much torque needs to be supplied to which axle in order to ensure maximum forward progress.

All of the above takes place instantly and smoothly, the distribution of power going unnoticed by the driver. It makes smooth, fluid sporty driving on winding roads an especially harmonious experience.