You've heard recent M4/M3 prototypes blasting around the Nurburgring [
M4 vid] [
M3 vid], now have a listen at how they sound around town.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION OR NOT?
As for today's rumor out of
Autoblog that there will be no manual transmission option for the M4, we believe it to be false. We submit contrary evidence in the form of: photos, videos, and VIN (options) information. The photos clearly show an early F80 M3 prototype with a 6 speed manual, the videos show what appears to be manual prototype M3 and M4 (judging by the shift and RPM patterns), and the VIN information shows prototypes with and without a DCT option.
F80 M3 prototype photos showing 6 speed manual transmission (from
this thread).
M3 and M4 Prototypes Displaying Manual Transmission Behavior
Also, as recently as a year ago, BMW M's head of engineering Albert Biermann made this statement:
"The M3 needs to have a stick shift. It will always have a stick shift." [
full statement]
While I think the M3 may one day (in future generations) lose stick shift, if Biermann is making this statement with the F80 M3 / F82 M4 development already well underway (by the time of the statement), I'd think that's a pretty solid statement we can bank on... in addition to all the other evidence.
M3 / M4 VIN INFORMATION
The following are the prototype VIN information that we've previously posted. As you can see, the first listed M3 prototype clearly indicates a "2MK M DCT WITH DRIVELOGIC" option (marked in red), while the second prototype's VIN information does not.
