Car Design News: New BMW X5 in Depth

Page 1: Short Version (I)
Page 2: Short Version (II)
Page 3: The Concept
Page 4: Driving Dynamics
Page 5: All Wheel Drive
Page 6: Power Units
Page 7: Automatic Transmission
Page 8: Exterior
Page 9: Interior
Page 10: Body & Safety
Page 11: The iDrive Control System
Page 12: Features and Equipment (I)
Page 13: Features and Equipment (II)
Page 14: Production
Page 15: Specifications

Automatic Transmission

Six-speed automatic transmission shifting 50 per cent faster.
Direct connection to the engine, optimum comfort, enhanced efficiency.
Stylish ergonomics: the electronic gear selector lever.

All versions of the BMW X5 come as standard with an optimised six-speed automatic transmission.

Equipped with elaborate electronic control, the new transmission stands out in particular through a level of reaction and gearshift speed never seen before: Setting standards in sporting terms, the reaction and gearshift times of the new transmission are up to 50 per cent faster than on a conventional automatic gearshift.

Direct connection of the transmission to the engine enhances the dynamic acceleration of the new BMW X5, while electronic gear path detection ensures utmost precision in shifting gears.

With smooth transitions from one gear to the next, the new automatic transmission offers not only a significant improvement in driving dynamics, but also the ultimate standard of motoring comfort. Gears are selected via an electronic selector lever ensuring optimised ergonomics and truly fascinating, stylish design. The automatic transmission features new torque converter technology avoiding any unnecessary slip which might possibly cause a loss of power. The transmission itself comes in two variants tailored specifically to the torque potential of the six-cylinder gasoline engine, on the one hand, and the six-cylinder diesel and V8 gasoline engine, on the other. A feature shared by both variants is their improved standard damper systems.

The transmission combined with the eight-cylinder and the diesel engine is bale to handle torque of up to 650 Newton-metres or 479 lb-ft, the transmission on the six-cylinder gasoline engine is able to cope with peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft.

The new automatic transmission alone is able to reduce fuel consumption in the EU cycle by approximately 3 per cent and offers manual operation when required with a sequential gearshift. Indeed, there is even a sports program for the particularly dynamic and ambitious driver.

New electronic gear selector lever.

The automatic transmission is controlled by an electronic gear selector lever featured fro the first time in the new BMW X5. Through its straightforward elegance in design combined with ergonomic ease of control, the selector lever not only pampers the eye and feeling of the beholder, but also offers secure and firm grip in every situation. The gearshift pattern, in turn, is the usual configuration with automatic transmission, the only difference being that now the selector lever returns to its initial position each time after use. A further highlight is that transmission management is now no longer mechanical, but rather follows electrical signals.

The driver switches to Park by pressing the P-button on the top of the selector lever. And to activate the manual gearshift, all he has to do is push the lever to the left, then shifting gears sequentially by hand, pulling the lever back to shift up and pressing it forward to shift down.

A display in the selector lever itself as well as a further indicator in the instrument cluster show which gear is currently in mesh.

This innovative gear selector lever allows short and ergonomic gearshift travel, a further advantage over and above the comfortable gearshift being the additional space left on the centre console for storage trays and cupholders.

High-performance control electronics for fast reaction.

The new automatic transmission shifts gears smoothly and quickly, responding instantaneously to the driver�s commands. Gears are shifted electronically in the shift-by-wire mode, providing a truly unique, sporting style of motoring. And a further advantage is that this technology does not require any mechanical contact with the transmission, replacing the former Steptronic gearshift.

Elaborate electronic control ensures that the new automatic transmission responds perfectly to the position of the gas pedal, allowing the driver to control the gearshift even better in the automatic mode, for example when accelerating dynamically by pressing down the accelerator hard and forcefully.

When cruising in relaxed style, on the other hand, the automatic transmission will automatically choose the highest possible gear, the pressure exerted by the driver on the gas pedal being evaluated by means of a computer and translated precisely into the acceleration desired.

To ensure exact analysis of the driver�s commands and the driving situation, the control system also uses data on road speed, engine speed and the vehicle�s steering angle, likewise considering whether the vehicle is driving straight ahead, uphill or downhill.

Careful consideration of all these factors ensures the use of exactly the right gear tailored to driving conditions and requirements, with the lowest engine speed range being automatically selected for optimum fuel economy.

This direct gear detection process, as it is called, keeps the gearshift just as quick when skipping one or several gears in the process of shifting down, giving the automatic transmission its impressive precision and fast response at all times and in all situations.

New converter technology with reduced slip.

The new six-speed automatic transmission in the BMW X5 offers a truly exceptional, highly dynamic driving experience not only through its superior spontaneity and precision, but also by the direct link to the engine capitalising even more directly on the power of the drive unit.

To provide this symbiosis, the engine and transmission are interconnected more directly than ever before, new torque converter technology also helping to provide the unique sensation of superior driving agility.

The torque converter incorporates high-performance two-damper systems ensuring optimum suppression of vibrations. As a result, the new converter technology is able to avoid unnecessary, power-wasting slip in the converter clutch in nearly all driving situations, at the same time making gearshift processes even more stable and comfortable.

The converter clutch is closed immediately after setting off, the six-speed automatic transmission thus guaranteeing a direct connection to the engine with a driving impression corresponding in its character to the transmission on a manual gearbox vehicle. An additional torsion damper on the torque converter effectively sets off any unsmoothness in the drivetrain, the turbine torsion damper enabling the vehicle to run with its converter clutch closed also at lower engine speeds than before. This serves to reduce any loss of efficiency on the automatic transmission and significantly enhance the dynamic performance of the entire drivetrain.

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