Autoblog

When BMW opted to only make the M5 available with a seven-speed SMG gearbox, the hue and cry from U.S. purists was heard across the ocean. For 2007, BMW has finally decided to appease American customers by equipping the 500 HP uber-saloon with a six-speed manual, much to the apparent disgust of Gerhard Richter, the development chief of the M division.

Automobile magazine got their hands on the manual version of the M5 and seem to have come away with the opinion that it's better, but still not as good as it should be.

Aside from the fact that the manual cog swapper slows forward momentum of the V10-powered sedan, BMW also decided to nix the ability to completely disable the traction control. This decision, surely on the part of BMW's legal wonks, will likely cause another up swell of consumer complaints.

Overall, the reviewer thought that the action of the clutch and shift linkage was up to BMW standards, but in the end, the two words that stuck with us after reading the review were, "even clumsier."

[Source: Automobile]

Whatever stance you take in the automatic versus manual debate, if you haven't done so already, go out and sample a VW or Audi product equipped with the DSG transmission. All the positives – quicker shifts, better fuel economy, geek-cred – far outweigh the negatives and the fact that Porsche, BMW and even Chrysler are looking to develop their own dual-clutch gearbox, should tell you that DSGs are here to stay. Add to the fact that they may also be cheaper to produce and service, it didn't take anymore convincing for Ford and its Swedish arm, Volvo, to decide that they better throw their hat into the game.

WhatCar is reporting that a DSG-like tranny will find its way into Volvo models within the next two years and rumor has it that a high-performance version of the C30 will be one of the first vehicles to come equipped with the new gearbox.

In addition to Volvo's use of the dual-clutch setup, expect to see it carry over into Ford's vehicles as well, much like the migration from slush boxes that VW is in the process of executing.

[Source: What Car?]

Related Links:

• VW to replace all automatics with DSG
• Chrysler developing dual-clutch tranny for FWD vehicles
• 7-Speed DSG for Porsche?
• EVO X to get double-clutch gearbox

Back in June, BMW released all the details about their new M6 convertible, except one – price. Well, the mystery has been solved and those of you who want to own one of the fastest production drop tops in the world can get it at the bargain price of $105,095, including shipping. As a comparison, the carbon fiber, fixed roof model will only set you back $96,795, with shipping and the highfalutin Neiman Marcus Individual M6 will liberate $139,000 from your corporate expense account. However, it deserves note that included in the price of the M6, new owners will also get to partake in a one-day M driver training course at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The cabrio will still come equipped with the highly touted 5-liter V10, seven-speed SMG and all the geek-til-ya-freak gizmos that come standard on the M6. As a matter of fact, the only difference between the 'normal' M6 and its beheaded stepchild, aside from the obvious, is a slight performance penalty due to the added weight of the convertible's mechanisms, which makes the cabrio lap the Nurburgring a few ticks below the coupe's time.

[Source: Inside Line]

According to AutoExpress' sources, Aston Martin will be debuting a six-speed, automated, manual gearbox for its V8 Vantage at the Paris Motor Show. The clutchless setup allows for quick up/down shifts, via steering wheel-mounted paddles, and also a fully automatic mode for sedate cruising.

The new transmission will be similar to the one offered in the baby Aston's elder, the Vanquish, which may be a blessing/curse. Early on, most reported that the big-V's manu-matic was lurchy and difficult to drive with any measure of smoothness. According to Aston, a software update was released to cure those ills.

Aston Martin also plans on releasing details about a partnership with the world-renowned seat maker, Recaro, which will furnish both the DB9 and Vantage with new, more bolstered and adjustable thrones. 'Cause when you drop that kind of coin on a GT, you gotta be comfy, right?

You can find a pic of the Vantage's interior after the jump, with a large (read: awkward) mobile phone/sunglass/trinket holder where the shifter used to reside.

[Source: AutoExpress]

You're well acquainted with the speculation and rumors surrounding the upcoming release of the M3. Up until this point though, all we've had are blurry spy shots and chance encounters captured by fellow gearheads. However, two Bimmer-centric sites have dropped some very specific, albeit dubious, information about the price, options and most important, power figures, that will find adorn BMW's newest driver's car.

Engine output, although rated in kW and Nm on the sites, equates to 412 hp and 310 lb./ft., right within the range the boys in Munich estimated when pressed for details. Additionally, the engine will be a 4-liter V8, equipped with bi-VANOS and will send power through either a 3rd generation 7-speed SMG or a 6-speed manual. No word on what which transmission will come standard.

Pricing, with the applicable import costs will be $53,975, a mere $5k over the current 2006 model.

All the sordid details, pulled straight from the two posts can be found after the jump.

BMW hasn't even declared plans to make it, and yet here it is, courtesy of the spy photographers at AutoWeek (click through to see the full car) -- the BMW M6 convertible, in all of its glory. We expect the drop-top to have all the goodies of its coupe sibling (sans the carbon fiber roof, of course): 5.0-liter, 500-hp, 383-lb-ft V10, seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG) with the manual to follow this spring (at least one hopes). Look for this pretty vert at the Paris Motor Show this fall.

Savvy folks celebrating at Bimmerfest spotted this quirky BMW M6 and halted for a moment, observing the odd amber corners, carbon fiber roof, and... what's that? A clutch pedal, lack of steering wheel shifters and a suspiciously shirt-covered shifter? To the untrained eye, the vehicle would just have been another M6, but this is Bimmerfest guys, you didn't expect them to snag some spy shots of your yet-to-be-released model?

Kudos to Jon for posting the pics and Nicolas for the tip, and for BMW for finally being on the crest of releasing the mighty M5 with a proper manual transmission.

[Source: Bimmerfest.com]