BMW’s M performance arm will be embarking on a product assault over the next 30 months, with plans to release 30 models in that time… but there’s a big caveat – the plan could also mark the beginning of the end of manual six-speed BMW M models.
If you don’t mind the flappy paddles, there’s certainly a lot to be excited about. Speaking to CarSales Australia, BMW M boss Frank van Meel said the plan will include new or updated M and M Performance models, including for the imminent BMW X5 and X6 facelift updates, a full-fat M model for the all-new BMW X3, and perhaps more importantly, the brand’s first-ever fully electric BMW M model, the high-performance counterpart to the upcoming Neue Klasse BMW i3, now rumoured to just be called the BMW M3.
And don’t worry if electric is not quite your flavour, too, as the company has previously assured it will continue to offer the next-generation BMW M3 with a fire-breathing engine — likely an updated version of the much-renowned S58 inline six-cylinder engine.
Speaking to the publication, Van Meel said, “[BMW has] a long tradition in six-cylinder inline engines, which makes them more or less iconic for us, and also with the V8 engines.”
“We are planning to continue this because we have a big community worldwide, and also a lot of people that are maybe not ready yet or live in environments where it’s really difficult to charge the electric cars. As long there is demand from the markets, which currently there is a lot, we will keep it up.” he added.
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While petrolheads around the world may rejoice at the prospect of 30 upcoming models, the future of the manual gearbox tells a different story. Speaking on the matter, Van Meel admitted, “Probably it’s going to be more difficult to keep the manuals alive, especially in the next decade.”
He explains that the manual gearbox presents many limitations, especially when it comes to torque output and fuel consumption, the former evident in the current-generation BMW M2, where the manual-equipped cars are limited to 550 Nm of torque output, compared to 600 Nm in models equipped with the ZF eight-speed torque converter automatic.
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Eliminating this torque limitation would require BMW M to develop an entirely new gearbox — a move that is difficult to justify from a business perspective. Van Meel further explained that suppliers are unlikely to invest in developing a new manual transmission, given that demand remains tiny compared to automatic gearboxes.
However, speaking in the role of an automotive enthusiast, Van Meel assured that the company will continue offering manual transmission options for as long as possible. He added, “From an emotional standpoint and customer standpoint, a lot of people still love manuals, so that’s why we kept them — and we intend to keep them as long as possible.”
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So how much time does the six-speed manual realistically have left in BMW M’s modern portfolio? Likely until the end of the 2020s. “We’re still happy with the manuals we have and we plan to keep them for the next couple of years, but in future, probably it’s going to be more difficult to keep the manuals alive, especially in the next decade,” van Meel added.
Not that it really matters for the enthusiasts in Malaysia, anyway, as BMW Malaysia no longer offers manual M models in our market – at least not with a special order. That means if you’re still chasing a brand-new three-pedal BMW, your closest alternative may be the A90 Toyota GR Supra, which sports a BMW-sourced B58 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six under the bonnet. The reskinned (and re-engineered) Z4 starts from RM645,000 on-the-road without insurance.
READ MORE: Toyota GR Supra now with 6-speed manual in Malaysia, from RM645k
