New Delhi: BMW’s top boss, Frank van Meel, at the start of this year, had commented on the manual gearbox and how it probably wasn’t practical “from an engineering
standpoint.” His reasons were that manuals put a limit on the engine’s torque, while the automatic can handle the full power delivered by the brand’s epic inline-six.
Certainly, the engineers could make a more beefy transmission quite capable of unlocking the engine’s full potential, but the cost is a major issue to consider first.
Demands for the manuals are less than what they used to be, although the counterargument is that the sales would be higher if automakers made enough of the manual gearbox cars. However, investing in a new manual, with the fear that it might not perform well in the sales charts, is already a recipe for disaster. Still, BMW isn’t completely pulling the plug on manuals.
As per the M Division’s Vice President, Customer, Brand and Sales, BMW, Sylvia Neubauer isn’t ready to call time on manuals just yet. Neubauer spoke to Automobilwoche, saying that engineers are working on a solution so as to keep the clutch available, even though their 3.0-litre engine continues to have more power. While there are no details about the solution, the M executive has said that it was “promising” as per the German report.
How can BMW keep the manual gearbox relevant?
There are ways, of course, that could keep the manuals relevant, including things like artificially limiting the engine’s performance to preserve the manual’s long-term durability. This has been something that has happened for quite a while now, with the M2 automatic coming with 50 Nm more of torque than the manual one.
Whether they have a manual or not in their line, it is clear that BMW won’t be abandoning high-performing combustion-engine cars. Even wth EV M models coming closer, ICE still has a lot of rope at Munich. The brand has already confirmed that they are bringing a six-cylinder engine in the next-gen M3, which is going to launch in 2028.
That should say that the sports saloon will remain on sale way into the next decade as well, by which time there will be a wide range of M-badged EVs. Even if the M3 in its next iteration doesn’t come with a manual, that is still a long way to go, with chances of it bowing out either by the end of this year or in early 2027, taking into consideration that the 3 Series might switch generations.
Enthusiasts still have time before the manual gearbox is chopped out from the BMW line (Image via BMW)
Meanwhile, BMW is removing one model from their manual offerings, which is the Z4 M40i, which ends production this month. Following the roadster’s exit, there remain only the M2, M3, and M4 with manual transmission. The M2 and M4 coupes will be there until the end of this decade, and that is a long while to buy the six-speed BMW M car.
The reality is that the future isn’t too promising for the manuals, due to low take ratesm limited power, and van Meel points out the higher fuel consumption. While that won’t matter to enthusiast but, with stricter emission laws moving forward, the manual’s demise is sooner rather than later. Even though this might be frustrating for the enthusiasts, the odds are against the manuals.
