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Joker
February 15th, 2011, 11:01
Why the 2012 BMW M5 is M’s First Automatic-Only Car

Mike Connor (http://wot.motortrend.com/author/mike-connor/) on February 14 2011 4:30 PM

http://wot.motortrend.com/files/2011/02/2011-BMW-M5-spy-shot-side-623x389.jpg


Since spy shots first appeared last summer of the F10 BMW M5, it has been clear it will be the first M car available only with a fully automatic transmission (http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-bmw-m5-ms-first-automatic-only-car-32243.html#), with manumatic controls of course. The spy shots were of the “planned leak” variety, allowing spy photographers to peek inside the next M5’s cabin. The transmission mated to the twin-turbo, gas direct-injection 4.4-liter V-8 will be a ZF eight-speed automatic, with no manual or twin-clutch transmission offered.
The X5 M and X6 M come with automatics, of course, but we’re counting them as crossover/utility vehicles (http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-bmw-m5-ms-first-automatic-only-car-32243.html#).
Word is that BMW tried to adapt the Getrag M Dual Clutch Transmission (M DCT) for the F10 M5. M is tipped to have tuned the car’s twin-turbo V-8 to more than 550 horsepower. Although the torque number remains unknown, it’s obviously too high for the M DCT. BMW M discovered that the transmission would have to be beefed up with bigger actuators, which would slow down the transmission’s response time. The only way it could have worked was with an extensive redo of the M DCT. So BMW’s M division chose to go with the eight-speed manumatic only.
One competitor still offers both fully manual and fully automatic (http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-bmw-m5-ms-first-automatic-only-car-32243.html#) transmissions, the Cadillac (http://wot.motortrend.com/manufacturer/cadillac/) CTS-v, while the Mercedes-Benz (http://wot.motortrend.com/manufacturer/mercedesbenz/) E63 AMG and its predecessors have long been manumatic-only.



Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/2012-bmw-m5-ms-first-automatic-only-car-32243.html#ixzz1E1aWMFGE

Joker
February 15th, 2011, 11:09
Is it possible that when BMW originally co-developed their M-DKG that they didn't foresee the prospect of their M cars making the switch to FI and in turn putting a great demand on the internals of the transmission? :doh: It's probably a bit early to say for sure that the RS6 will use their brilliant S/Tronic but if the above comments are true then I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear Audi going the same route.

P.S.
Just a thought, rumor has it that the new M5 will be the frist production BMW to be offered with a KERS system, it's well known that these systems can and are combined with the transmission so this might be the reason for the switch to automatic as much as any other.:brag: