Future Bimmers Shifting to Automatic Transmissions

BMW AG plans to phase out manual and dual-clutch automatic transmission in coming years.

Traditional automatics are becoming more efficient, thus equalizing the previous advantages of manuals and dual-clutch transmissions (DCT), Peter Quintus, vice president of sales and marketing for BMW’s M performance unit, tells Drive.

“A lot of that shift-time advantage has disappeared as automatics get better and smarter," Quintus says, pointing to the advent of quick-shifting, fuel-efficient 9- and 10-speed automatics. He also notes that torque converter-based automatic transmissions can handle higher torque levels than manual gearboxes.

Quintus previously had predicted that BMW may eliminate manual transmissions by about 2025. Now he says it’s just a matter of  “how long the DCT has to go.”