The good news just keeps on coming! Just like Audi paring back its EV initiative, word has it that BMW appears to be steadfast in maintaining the manual transmission.
According to Car and Driver, Sylvia Neubauer, Vice President of Customer, Brand, and Sales for BMW’s M sub-brand, was chatting with BMW Blog and indicated its engineers will always try to offer manual transmissions in upcoming models. “I think BMW will always be very creative. We can always think about it [M car with a manual transmission]. BMW M is a rather entrepreneurial company of very passionate M guys. So if our engineers can make it happen, I think they will always try to do so.”
This echoes similar sentiments made previously by other Bimmer executives. However, if changing course with the direction of future electrification is any indication, then it would be safe to assume that no sentiment is cast in stone.
So, what if you (like some of us) want a manual transmission for more pedestrian models? Manual transmissions shouldn’t have to be a luxury item, after all! This point hasn’t been addressed, though Neubauer adds, “For the current model lineup, we always have ideas in mind to bring more manuals into certain markets in a certain quantity because we know that there are manual transmission lovers out there. Yes, we will keep you happy.”
When it comes to M cars, the M3 is the most famous and prolific. The next-gen version may offer both ICE and an electric equivalent (the latter without a manual available, no doubt).
