A version of the new BMW M5 F10 with manual transmission will actually be made available on the American market. Just like the old E60 V10, this model was designed to accommodate a sports automatic gearbox, but in the US - which are the most important market for the M line - there is still a demand for good old manual gearbox, a fact that prompted BMW to make the decision. According to Autoblog.nl, Head of Development for the Motorsport division Albert Biermann said that BMW engineers had to work hard on the new Twin Turbo V8 (delivering 560 hp and 680 Nm) in order to have the manual transmission fitting in. Biermann clearly admitted that the job took a lot of commitment and required a long development, but the outcome is so technically advanced that the solution might be taken into consideration for future projects.

Because of the internal frictions, the M5 with manual transmission will be less effective than the version equipped with BMW’s own 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT-7), meaning that it will be more difficult to control and, all in all, slower. This doesn’t mean that the F10 will be the last M5 ever with manual gearbox but, given the potential of the new generation of automatic transmission, it might as well be. Especially with a new all-wheel drive version in the making and in the light of BMW Motorsport division’s future plans.

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