It's Confirmed: BMW phasing out 6-speeds for M cars

[SWing]

Got this article from AutoSpies:

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Official confirmation of the ***** of the BMW 6-speed?
We uncover the official answer from BMW


Auto Spies article claims officially confirmed

A few weeks back we predicted the six-speed manual BMW transmission will become a thing of the past.

This week it was confirmed by the BMW product manager in Autoweek

Source: Autoweek

BMW's Formula One-style gearbox may become only performance transmission option

Do you like the stick shift and the clutch pedal in your BMW M car? Enjoy it now because the folks in Munich have seen the future and it’s called SMG (as in Sequential Manual Gearbox).
The company’s second-generation SMG is an option on the M3, and the next-generation M5 will also feature the Formula One racing-style paddle shifters, sans the traditional clutch pedal and gearshift lever. According to Rolf Scheibner, product manager for M cars, it won’t be long before SMG is the only transmission option for the performance cars.

“With SMG, you can shift faster and it is better for the engine, the clutch and the transmission,” says Scheibner. “With the M cars, top performance is the key, and with SMG, it is the top performance.”

[MAVERICK]

Why can't they give us a 6-speed as an option? They should know some people will pay extra money for it. In fact, the 6-speed manual option will make the car more exclusive and rare.

[bgomez]

The next M6 just lost some of it's appeal!
Maybe? V-10 well ok!

[steveB]

I read in auto week last night that BMW has NOT confirmed that they will build an M6.

[KRM]

I highly doubt a bmw product manager would make such a confirmation at this stage.

if this is the case and they stick to it for future m models then, they have easily lost me as a possible near future buyer.......

[TriflowM5+M3]

Im buying other than BMW from now on

Originally posted by TriflowM5
Im buying other than BMW from now on

Does anyone think the new Maserati will be a better alternative to BMW? ......I can't think of another manufacturer who would do a manual in an Urber Saloon

[Need4Spd]

I'm not a fan of SMG. I'd rather have a traditional manual. If they go to SMG exclusively, then other mfrs' cars, particularly the one with the 3 pt. star, will become a viable alternative for me. Too bad BMW, if no manuals will be available, then you might well lose me to an E55.

[M5Ted]

Noooooooooooooooo