Chassis and safety features34 35
Integral Active Steering.
With Integral Active Steering, at
speeds up to mph, a small
turn of the steering wheel yields
a greater turn of the front wheels
for more direct response. It also
steers the rear wheels up to .
degrees in the opposite direction,
giving the effect of a shortened
wheelbase for enhanced maneu-
verability. When changing lanes at
speeds over mph, both front
and rear wheels turn in the same
direction, giving the feel of an
extended wheelbase. While you
experience greater responsiveness
and directional stability, your pas-
sengers enjoy greater ride comfort
from reduced body roll.
Adaptive Drive.
Included in the Dynamic Handling
Package, Adaptive Drive combines
performance-elevating Active
Roll Stabilization (ARS) and ride-
enhancing Dynamic Damping
Control (DDC). The vehicle’s body
tends to roll in corners, affecting
handling. ARS twists special two-
piece anti-roll bars to generate
stronger resistance to body roll,
keeping the vehicle more level and
providing maximum stability and
agility. DDC, on the other hand,
instantly adjusts shock absorbers
from the softest to the fi rmest
settings. The result is exceptional
ride comfort and fl uid handling
at all times – during changes in
vehicle speed, load or road and
driving conditions.
Driving Dynamics Control.
By pressing a button, you can
adjust the all-new Series Sedan’s
driving characteristics. Choose from
four settings:
COMFORT
,
NORMAL
,
SPORT
and
SPORT
+, to adjust
shock-absorber fi rmness, engine-
throttle response, transmission
shift characteristics and power-
steering assist. In addition, the
traction control feature can be
disengaged when driving on sand,
gravel, or deep or packed snow.
The all-new Series Sedan offers a host of innovative performance-enhancing
technologies as well as active and passive safety features that help you get
the most pleasure out of every drive.
IF THE ALL-NEW SERIES SEDAN
IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT,
WHAT’S INSIDE IS POSITIVELY STUNNING.
-speed Sport Automatic
transmission.
Enjoy quick, comfortable gearshifts,
using the gear selector lever or
steer ing wheel-mounted gearshift
paddles. The close spacing of the
eight gears optimizes acceleration
while improving effi ciency and shift
comfort.
Double-wishbone front
suspension.
BMW minimizes the effect of poor
road surfaces by using a double-
wishbone design. This removes
lateral and longitudinal forces
from acting on the dampers,
leaving them free to respond
even more sensitively to the
road. Both front and rear axles
are made entirely of aluminum,
which reduces unsprung weight
and further enhances comfort.
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC).
DSC helps to stabilize the all-new
Series Sedan in just milliseconds
when it senses an impending skid.
When ever the system senses over-
or understeer, it modulates engine
power and can apply brakes
individually to each wheel to help
keep the vehicle under control
and going in the intended direction.
For sportier driving or in deep snow,
Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)
allows increased wheelslip.
Passive safety.
In the event of a collision, the
Sedan’s safety system determines
which of six airbags to deploy for
optimal protection. An extremely
rigid steel “safety cage” surrounds
the cabin, with deformable crush
tubes front and rear. In a severe
crash, impact energy is routed
around the cabin and absorbed
by the safety cage. In a severe side
impact, a reinforcing bar hooks
the door to the body, locking them
together to make a more rigid pas-
senger cell. When the pressure is
released, the system is designed
to snap back so that the doors
can open.
For details on the availability of standard and optional features,
please refer to the Equipment charts at the back of this brochure.
