The version with the combustion engine of the new generation BMW M3 was spotted during testing at the Nurburgring. A hint that the German brand’s super-sedan could still aim for a traditional setup. According to Autocar, BMW M’s intentions also include the possibility of keeping the manual transmission, although the evolution of onboard technology and the increasing complexity of modern cars make the choice increasingly difficult to implement on production models.
BMW M still believes in the manual transmission
On the occasion of last week’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Frank van Meel, head of BMW M, stated that the division’s petrol sports cars will continue to offer the manual transmission for as long as possible. He added that, even in markets like the USA, historically more oriented towards automatic, M2 coupe sales are distributed in a substantially balanced way between automatic and manual versions. Van Meel also linked the choice to an emotional component of driving, describing the manual transmission as a mechanical connection element still perceived by customers, as well as a purely engineering matter.
But the obstacles are not few
Regarding technical constraints, van Meel emphasized that the supplier base is shrinking and that, with the increase of driver assistance systems, it becomes more complex to disconnect the transmission without impacts also on components related to any mild-hybrid. Nevertheless, he reiterated that the goal remains to preserve the manual transmission for as long as possible. On the powertrain front, the main interest of the future M3 would remain the 3.0-liter turbo inline six-cylinder petrol engine. There will be innovations: updates to the combustion process and several components such as variable geometry turbochargers are expected. Attention also remains on power management and, in particular, on cooling challenges related to track driving conditions.
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