For those of us old-school drivers who enjoy the feel of being in control of a high-powered vehicle with the use of a manual transmission; our days of such enjoyment may be numbered especially when consumer preferences have shifted into the predominant usage of automatic-transmissions, prompting BMW to hack the possibility of offering a manual transmission (MT) for the next M5 (after the F10) to emerge from Bavaria.
Instead, BMW will only engineer the next M5 with double-clutch transmissions as Albert Biermann (BMW M Head of Engineering) indicated to Inside Line that there will be no plans to include a three-pedal equipped M5 for the future, since roughly 15-20% of their total M5 orders headed for the U.S. last year consisted of manual transmissions.
Biermann further indicated that they are expecting that percentage to decline by 5% for this year (2012), making it too low for the Bavarian company to provide a stick-shift since there was practically no demand for it else-where in the world, including Europe. Hence, their decision to remove the option for a stick-shifting M5 in the future, even though it is cheaper for consumers to purchase, yet more expensive to stall due to the lack of economies of scale.
However, Biermann has ensured that the M3 will always retain the option of having a stick-shift, to a point where it seems that it could be irregardless of demand levels.
Specs:
– Engine Type: 4.4L V8
– Power: 560 hp @ 6000-7000 rpm
– Torque: 680Nm @ 1500-5750 rpm
– Transmission: 7-Speed (AT)
– Forced Induction: Turbocharger
– Direct Injection: Yes
– Layout: Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)
– Front Suspension: Double Wishbone
– Rear Suspension: Multi-Link
– Front: 19″ Aluminum
– Front Tires: 265/40 ZR19
– Rear: 19″ Aluminum
– Rear Tires: 295/35 ZR19
http://youtu.be/3Cx7xrhYheI
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ammar_asyraf (06-24-2012)
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06-23-2012, 03:51 PM
Re: BMW to Omit Manual Transmission for Next M5
