[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]BMW manual transmissions are quickly becoming obsolete. Dirk Hacker, the head of development for BMW’s M division, told Top Gear that the M2 will most likely be the last BMW with a manual gearbox.
According to Hacker, BMW and suppliers have yet to decide if the manual gearbox would be discontinued with the latest M2. According to Hacker, citing the global automobile market perspective, the number of manual gearbox vendors is decreasing. “So I’m not sure we will have the possibility in the future—but the future means six, seven years in the forecast,” he continued.
Other automakers use synthetic gear shifts and engine sounds to simulate the manual driving experience in electric vehicles. Toyota revealed a performance EV with manual gearbox this morning. When asked if this idea could be replicated for BMW, Hacker replied, “It could be done, but we won’t.”
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Last year, BMW M Division Head Frank van Meel stated that the stick shift will be available until the end of the decade. BMW North America stated that manual transmissions will continue to be available in the M2, M3, and M4.
According to the hacker, BMW M automobiles no longer employ dual-clutch transmissions. He also stated that ZF’s eight-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes outperform and are more reliable than DCT transmissions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
