BMW M to offer manual transmission as long as possible, despite no technical reason

BMW M to maintain handbook gearbox possibility for keen drivers

German motor vehicle maker wanting to buck manual-ditching development, following adhere-shift accounted for 50% of all M2 orders

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by Felix Website page 24 June 2022

BMW M boss Frank van Meel is decided to keep the guide gearbox on the alternatives checklist for as prolonged as probable and has been buoyed in his quest by 50% of orders for the BMW M2 requesting it.

“From a technical viewpoint, there’s tiny explanation to help save it. It’s heavier, it is really slower and you get even worse fuel usage than the option. But the client and the fanbase genuinely appreciate the guide. It gives a relationship to enable them to display they can tame the beast – and that’s the place. We want to keep it,” he mentioned.

Many firms have already scrapped the manual selection, this sort of as Mercedes-AMG, citing assortment simplifications and lessen manufacturing expenditures.

But BMW appears to be established to buck the development, with van Meel confirming that the guide possibility is far too well-known to ditch.

He added: “For the M2, every single 2nd motor vehicle is bought with a handbook. Persons want to say they can handle the beast. If they have a way of showing they can do that, then they want it – and a manual gearbox is portion of that.

“It’s portion of the emotional enchantment of our cars, and that’s why we like handbook gearboxes. The US is the largest industry, and if prospects keep on to say they want it, then wonderful.”

The subsequent iteration of the M2 is predicted to arrive in showrooms at the close of 2022, which signifies its unveiling is only months away. It will have even more powerful performance and more versatility than the product it replaces.

The next-technology 2 Collection Coupé, on which it’s based mostly, is already on sale.

AUTOCAR https://www.autocar.co.british isles/car-information/c…n-eager-motorists