The upgraded NB heating power on W7-AS allowed extension of the accessible parameter space. In first experiments, a remarkable increase of the ion temperatures was obtained. The results are discussed on the basis of a detailed transport analysis which confirms the neoclassical nature of the ion transport up to the 1 mfp regime. The maximum NB heating power was applied to investigate beta limits. Although beta values close to the predicted stability limit could be reached, no clear indication of a limit has been found so far. Several experimental observations on W7-AS point to the necessity of a divertor. The feasibility of a divertor making use of the natural islands in an optimized stellarator was investigated, and a possible solution for an island divertor on W7-AS is outlined.