BMW M Boss Says 600 HP Is The Limit, Manuals Not Long For This World - Motor Authority
Manual transmissions have fallen out of favor with mainstream buyers, but hardcore enthusiasts aren't giving up on them. So surely BMW's M division, maker of performance cars that specifically target the enthusiast market, will be a safe haven for the clutch pedal for the time being. Recent improvements in the performance of automatic transmissions and the proliferation of dual-clutch gearboxes could soon spell the end of manuals at BMW M, the division's chief claims. The DCT and auto 'boxes are faster and they have better fuel consumption," BMW M chief Frank van Meel said in a recent interview with Autocar. Number-focused engineers are increasingly turning to automated transmissions for performance improvements, and stricter global emissions standards mean fuel economy is a concern even for sporty cars. BMW is still one of the champions of the manual among luxury carmakers, offering them in most of its mainstream and M models. "It's difficult to say we'll stick to the manual," van Meel said, "but we still have a big fan community for manuals and we are not going to take away something the customer wants to have. Van Meel also said that 600 horsepower will be the limit for future M cars. Source: www.motorauthority.com
