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BMW buyers who like to ‘row their own’ gears may be forced to look to other carmakers in the future, as the German company reportedly thinks the days of the manual transmission in its products are numbered.
While the manual-equipped 1 Series, 2 Series and 3 Series might be safe for a short while, BMW M performance models could be heading towards an all-automatic future.
Speaking with the UK’s Autocar, BMW M boss Frank van Meel said the manual transmission might not be long for this world.
The issue forcing the rethink in BMW is the pursuit of ever-improving acceleration times (to satisfy enthusiasts) while improving fuel consumption in their M models.
“From a technical standpoint, the future doesn’t look bright for manual gearboxes,” Mr van Meel said.
“The DCT and auto ’boxes are faster and they have better fuel consumption.”
Mr van Meel said both dual-clutch and ‘conventional’ automatics could be available in future BMW products, and that the “competition” between the two transmissions was healthy for development.
While the manual may be on thin ice, it hasn’t been shown the door by BMW just yet. In fact, Mr van Meel hinted that a boost in demand may save the enthusiast’s favourite.
"It’s difficult to say we’ll stick to the manual, but we still have a big fan community for manuals and we are not going to take away something the customer wants to have,” Mr van Meel said.
The age-old question of ‘how much power is too much’ might have an answer, at least for now, with van Meel reportedly saying 600 BHP (448kW) is the limit for the current M range.
Mr van Meel said a boost in power beyond 600 BHP would “probably by over the limits” for BMW M’s current range, but didn’t mention if the same limit applied to the next generation of M cars.
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18 Comments
The "driver's car", just no shifting by you okay. :D
So I guess that rules out a sequential gearbox? The Westfield Megabusa has one (of course) as it runs a Hyabusa engine / gearbox. Not many drivers would change down a gear on downhill runs to use engine braking to turn off fuel injectors and save fuel. I wonder if computer controlled autos do that? The XR6T with the ZF 6 speed auto is quicker than the same car with the manual gearbox.
DSG does. Mid 90s Pugeot 306 also did.
The 6sp ZF in our 2004 BMW does Pah. Lightly brush the brake pedal and it will change down.
Like many people who think in the same vein, he doesn't seem to get it - it's not just about numbers you can furiously brag over on a pointless internet forum, ala GT-R fanboys. I've only ever owned manuals and have driven every contemporary gearbox around and I still come back to shifting my own gears. As any like-minded person will understand, the point is the fun and interaction between man and machine. If you have an awesome run it's because YOU did it. If you burn up the clutch or crunch a change then YOU did it. Auto gearboxes are for the lazy and indifferent masses who see driving as a chore (or for the poor souls whom don't have a choice for whatever reason). Dual-clutch gearboxes are especially impressive and you can't argue with the results. But as fun and involving as a manual? By nature, not possible.
Modern autos of all flavours are almost certainly going to shift faster and more consistently than I can, so you can add "numbers" people (whether forum fanboy or track devotee) to the list of those who might be better off with an auto. But I'm with you, I'm more than happy to lose a few tenths here and there for the joy of really driving a car...and surely there'd be enough M-car buyers in particular that would feel the same to justify the manual BMW's existence.
Godspeed DrewsTurbo | 09 Jul 2015 00:49
Completely agree with this. Shame about your remark about "GT-R fanboys" though, as I own an R34 GT-R. Surprisingly enough, GT-R ownership and an appreciation for the mechanical / analog man-machine interaction are not mutually exclusive."It???s difficult to say we???ll stick to the manual, but we still have a big fan community for manuals and we are not going to take away something the customer wants to have,??? Mr van Meel said. So are you going to stick with manuals or not? I swear, some of these auto industry types trot out some real BS sometimes.
or is it the motoring journos that pick apart every word spoken for the sake of creating an "article". Can you imagine someone playing back your most recent conversation repeatedly and then analysing each word for meaning as to the future of a whole industry? Seems ridiculous because it is.
Every now and then a real car enthusiast becomes an auto executive and really stands by their principles and shows some balls by not towing the company line all the way. Unfortunately, Frank van Meel isn't one of them. Of all companies, M - the performance division of the "Ultimate Driving Machine" should be the one sticking with the stick.
If the manual survives, would the manual die hard enthusiast be satisfied when he knew he was driving the slower variant that sucked down more fuel? Driving a manual is certainly more involving but so is operating a typewriter and im not about to trade in the laptop on one.
Spoken like a true auto driver who has never had the pleasure of enjoying a manual transmission. "Slower variant" - maybe in a flat out drag race, but how often does that happen on the street? The difference will be marginal anyway. "sucked down more fuel" - only on paper. You do realise a sensibly driven manual has as much, if not even more fuel efficiency than an auto. Even if what you said was true, I'd happily trade flat-out acceleration and fuel efficiency for a whole heap more fun. BTW, there's a difference between "involving" and "fun", hence spoken like a true non-manual driver.
I've got two manual vehicles myself (car and bike) and love shifting gears. But this is inevitable progress and no point railing against it. Car drivetrains are already getting so complicated (eg hybrid) that it no longer makes sense to have a human change a "gear".
So why not take a stand and fight for what you love?:)
King Canute and all that...
Surely BMW, A company who make cars that fill niches of niches wouldn't remove a transmission choice which could result in less sales.
I prefer a manual transmission for the more involving experience, not concerned about tenths and marginal gains fuel consumption which might save me $100 a year. Having said that, beyond speed and fuel consumption there's technology like adaptive cruise control which is becoming more popular. Having just bought the new Subaru Liberty with the Eyesight system (but no manual trans available- boo!), I cant see how this could work with a manual trans. In cruise, it will automatically accel/decel and will bring the car to a complete stop without the driver touching the brake pedal. It will slam the brakes on if you forget. Speed governing during cruise is often done via the CVT transmission ramping gear ratios, not possible with a manual trans. I still prefer manual and my two other cars are both manuals but new safety technology might be another reason the manual is becoming rare.
Auto parking it another one of those technologies. Never really thought about it from that angle.