BMW has offered dual-clutch automatic transmissions in some of its models in the past, such as the M-series and some trims of other models. But now the automaker has decided to gradually move away from “mechanics” and other archaisms.
BMW M gearbox.
image source: topgear.com
The future of BMW M is automatic. The double-clutch transmission is almost dead, the mechanics remain, but it does not have long to work on the production BMW models. The future of M sports car transmissions seems to hinge on torque converters. Only torque converters will remain until seemingly single-speed electric vehicles take over.
The departure of “mechanics” into the past has long been predicted. And the just-launched M2 will likely be the last M car to come with a manual transmission. The M2 Competition is due out in a few years, the facelift in four, the M2 CS will also appear at some point, then the manual transmission will be phased out until the M2 finally smokes its last set of tires around 2030.
The dual-clutch transmission will also soon be forgotten. This vaunted shift gearbox is not currently used in any BMW M car – and is unlikely to return. You might have guessed it when the M4 CSL arrived last year with the same eight-speed automatic transmission as the rest of the M3/M4 range, but now BMW M Development Manager Dirk Haecker, the confirmed.
“Dual clutches, in BMW M terms these days, are a thing of the past,” he told TopGear.com. “Now it’s manual or automatic, and in the future the automatic will be electrified.”
BMW M gearbox.
image source: topgear.com
The main question is why they decided to leave the automatic instead of the double clutch. According to Dirk Hacker, there was a big discussion around the M5, not only about the automatic transmission, but also about other things. “And the decision was made not only because of the cost, but also because of the comfort of driving with an automatic transmission, because we received a lot of feedback on maneuvers, parking, not moving if you release pedal, etc.”
In other words, the automatic beat the DCT because it was easier to shift, although Hacker goes on to say that “the automatic works better than the dual-clutch. It shifts faster in the M4 CSL, but on the other hand, we also use this automatic in the new M4 GTR race car. While anyone who’s driven the latest M4 CSL and experienced downshifts and slow upshifts knows it’s not as clean, quick and fun to use as the F80 M3’s dual-clutch gearbox and others.
How about electrifying a manual transmission? “I think it can be done, but we won’t.” So “mechanic” dies with M2? “It’s not just a BMW decision, but also a supplier decision. If you look around you will see that the business of manual transmission suppliers is going to decline. This is my forecast for six or seven years. .
BMW M gearbox.
image source: topgear.com
The new M5 should appear next year. It’s rumored to be a hybrid – although Hacker’s idea isn’t being compared to the poorly received Mercedes AMG C63 – but it’s safe to assume it will have a similar technical build to the XM, with a twin-turbo hybrid. The V8 drives all four wheels. The machine can be forgiven in this situation, but let’s just pray it doesn’t weigh 2.6 tons.
Current M cars, especially the M2 (or are you in a part of the world where the M3 is offered with a 480hp manual transmission) will have “mechanics”, but all subsequent models will be automatic, and possibly not at all without a lever.
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