Manual No More: BMW to Drop Stick from Next M5, M6

FROM THE NET Manual no more: BMW to drop stick from next M5, M6 Andrew Ganz

2013 BMW M5

It will soon be the end of an era for BMW's manual transmission—at least in the company's sporty M5 and M6 models. BMW says that limited interest from consumers is forcing it to drop the manual transmission option in its next generation M5 and M6 to focus instead on dual-clutch gearboxes. Speaking with Car and Driver, the head of BMW's M division, Frank van Meel, said that "demand has dropped to zero" for M5s and M6s with stick shifts. BMW has previously said that it developed the current manual transmission M5 and M6 specifically for the United States, but even here there has been less demand from consumers than the automaker expected. Van Meel's statement serves as the best confirmation yet about what some of BMW's engineers have said over the last few years. BMW has been slowly phasing out manual transmissions in its American market models. A few years ago, the automaker made the transmissions a "no cost" option over an automatic, rather than making buyers pay extra for a transmission that shifts itself. Today, the M5 and M6 are the only 5- and 6-Series models available with a manual transmission in the U.S. Don't fret, performance fans: van Meel says that the smaller M2, M3, and M4 will all retain their clutch pedals, however. The BMW M6 GT3 is a big-winged beast of a race car New 577bhp slicks’n’wings customer racer replaces the ageing Z4. Yours for £264,000 Rowan Horncastle 16 Sep 2015 Read more on:  Frankfurt Motor Show  Motorsport For the Frankfurt motor show, BMW finally let us see what was under that swirly camouflage dressing gown in which we saw the M6 GT3 parading around a few weeks ago. And holy mother of big wings, it was worth the wait. As of today, the low, wide and bewinged M6 GT3 takes over from the ageing Z4 GT3 as BMW’s customer GT racer. So if you’ve got really good at Forza 6 and want to go racing for real, all you need is £264,000, a crash helmet, and a significant stash of bravery. Built from a steel chassis, the M6 GT3 gets a welded FIA-approved safety cell, and carbon fibre crash structures at the front and back, just in case it turns out you’re not as good at racing in reality as you thought. It retains the 4.4-litre M TwinPower turbo version of the V8 founded in the M5 and M6, zinged up a bit and with power fed through a transaxle sequential six-speed ‘box. Regulations dictate the GT3 makes ‘only’ 577bhp in its most powerful state. So it’s slightly down on power when compared to a road-going ‘Competition’ packaged M6. But what the racer has lost in power, it’s made up in aero and weight loss. BMW M6 GT3. The new top model for GT racing. BMW Motorsport will add a new chapter to its success story in GT racing in 2016. The BMW M6 GT3 will replace the BMW Z4 GT3, which has been in action since 2010. Customers will be able to purchase the BMW M6 GT3 from the end of 2015, allowing them to compete in the 2016 BMW Sports Trophy with the new car.

The successor of the BMW Z4 GT3 In 2016, the BMW M6 GT3 will replace the BMW Z4 GT3, which has been in action since 2010. The new car is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, which has been modified for use in motor racing. The power train has dry sump lubrication and generates up to 585 hp – with the whole car weighing less than 1,300 kilograms. Further technical characteristics of the BMW M6 GT3 are the drive concept, six-speed sequential racing transmission, and high-performance motorsport electronics. The aerodynamic properties of the chassis have been optimised in the BMW wind tunnel. The engineers worked meticulously to fine-tune the BMW M6 Coupé, which formed the basis for the new car and was already perfectly suited to outings on the racetrack. Priority was given to ensuring maximum driver safety. To offer the drivers of the BMW M6 GT3 as much protection as possible against the effects of an accident, BMW Motorsport itself developed and produced the FIA-approved safety cell in accordance with the very latest safety standards. The engineers also placed great importance on efficiency and ease of maintenance, as well as reliability, which is particularly crucial at the 24-hour classics. The development of the BMW M6 GT3 incorporated all the experience that BMW Motorsport gained with the car’s successful predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3. For example, the new GT3 racing car boasts many improvements, particularly when it comes to driveability and economy. The positioning of the driver’s seat towards the centre of the car and the long wheelbase make driving the BMW M6 GT3 a unique experience in the world of motor racing. The net price for the car is 379,000 Euros.

BMW Group Australia announces 2016 Australian GT Championship assault BMW Group Australia has confirmed the company will enter the Australian GT Championship in 2016, fielding its newly developed BMW M6 GT3 performance car in the prestigious series. The racing version of the renowned BMW M6 coupe, the M6 GT3 was unveiled at the IAA Cars 2015 in September and has attracted interest from private teams in a host of championships and renowned race events around the world – and now it’s headed to Australia. Marc Werner, CEO of BMW Group Australia, is the architect of the brand’s plan to return to the popular local GT Series. “It’s a well known fact that Australians love performance vehicles, and the BMW Group designs and produces some of the world’s best performance vehicles – it’s in our DNA. “Vehicles such as our remarkable BMW M6 GT3 are born to race, so why wouldn’t we go racing? It makes perfect sense – it’s part of our brand’s performance heritage,” Werner said. “We definitely have an exciting 2016 motorsport season ahead of us. For one thing, BMW will be 100 years old, and that obviously gives us extra motivation to present the brand with as much success as possible to mark its anniversary. Plus, after many months of intense testing, we can’t wait to finally see the BMW M6 GT3s make their race debuts in Australia. “I am certain that we, our customers and the fans will have a lot of fun with these cars. With this in mind, I am particularly pleased to be able to welcome SRM into the BMW family, as a new team responsible for running the BMW M6 GT3 in Australia.” Assisting BMW Group Australia in their quest for a podium in 2016 will be four-time and current Bathurst 1000 winner, Steve Richards, and his team, Steve Richards Motorsport. The team will be known as the SRM Team BMW. Richards has been confirmed as the driver of the formidable M6 GT3, and he admits it’s been hard to wipe the smile off his face. “The M6 GT3 is awesome! I can’t wait to get behind the wheel!” Richards said. “At the same time, we’re delighted to be teaming up with the iconic BMW brand, celebrated for its high- performance vehicle engineering, on-track driving dynamics and enviable motorsport heritage. BMW has also had a big part to play in our family’s motor racing history. “The first season with the BMW M6 GT3 will certainly be exciting. It is a completely different concept to its predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3. “As such, a lot will be new, so it is hard to predict how quickly we will be up among the front-runners. However, I am impressed by the support offered by BMW Motorsport in Munich and BMW Group Australia. Everyone is doing their best to make the project a success as quickly as possible,” Richards said. Steve Richards Motorsport will also manage on-track support and parts supply when further M6 GT3 vehicles join the program during 2016. “With SRM Team BMW we will provide other potential BMW M6 GT3 owners on- and off-track support for their own racing programs and utilise our experience to help reach their full potential driving the car,” Richards said. The SRM Team BMW inaugural race program will include selected rounds of the 2016 GT Championship, covering both Sprint and Endurance events. The team’s campaign will begin with the second round of the Sprint program, the Australian Grand Prix event from March 17 to March 20, 2016. All four rounds of the Endurance program will be contested, including the Phillip Island (May 29), Sydney Motorsport Park (August 26-28), Hampton Downs (October 28-30) and Highlands Park 101 (November 13) events. The first all-new BMW M6 GT3 is scheduled to arrive in Australia in February. Initially unveiled at the IAA Cars 2015 in Frankfurt, the BMW M6 GT3 is the product of vast experience amassed since 2010 with the vehicle’s successful predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3. The BMW M6 GT3 is BMW’s most economic GT racing car ever, with significantly lower running costs than its predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, as well as longer lifecycles for cost-intensive parts – and at the same time increasing performance. At the heart of the car is the BMW 4.4-litre V8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, sequential six-speed racing gearbox, significant weight reduction and optimised body aerodynamics. In addition, with its centrally positioned driver’s seat and long wheelbase, the BMW M6 GT3 offers enhanced safety, stability and driving dynamics. Further details of SRM Team BMW’s 2016 schedule will be revealed early in the new year. 2016 BMW M6 GT3: twin-turbo racer unveiled in Melbourne ahead of full-season assault by David Zalstein Journalist 20 Feb 2016 The first 2016 BMW M6 GT3 car to land in Australia has been unveiled in Melbourne, accompanied by confirmation the factory-supported team behind it, will take part in every Australian GT and Australian Endurance Championship round in 2016. Now confirmed to begin its local racing resume at next month’s Adelaide Clipsal 500, the 2016 BMW M6 GT3 will participate in all six ‘sprint’ rounds of the Australian GT Championship, as well as all four Australian Endurance Championship (AEC) rounds. Racing under the BMW Team SRM (Steven Richards Motorsport) banner, the privately- owned entry will be headed, and driven, by Australian motorsport legend and four-time (1998, 1999, 2013, 2015) Bathurst 1000 winner Steve Richards (below right).

The son of local motorsport icon, and seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner, Jim Richards, Steve Richards said the process to get to this point, from initial introductions and discussions with BMW to signing an agreement, has all happened in six to seven weeks. “As you see the car here, it’s virtually, with another spanner check, ready to go testing. “We can’t wait to get out there and have a hoon around in what’s going to be a pretty exciting time for BMW coming back into Australian motorsport and Steven Richards Motorsport.” Speaking about the car, which arrived in Melbourne from Munich on February 16 and is one of only 20 built globally, Richards said, “I’ve got to say, I’ve seen a few good looking race cars in my time, but the first time I saw it… it was incredible.” “We had an allocation of two cars potentially to come to Australia, and there’s real interest from customers in that second car.” Powered by a GT3-specification version of the road-going BMW M6’s standard 423kW/680Nm twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, the 380,000 euro ($592,700) M6 race car outputs up to 430kW – though this can be adjusted via a real-time-accessible boost controller, according to mandated balance of performance (BoP) class regulations.

Helping the M6-based GT3 racer not only look the part but also perform to the necessary competition standards, are ultra wide guards, a wider track, significant aerodynamics, Pirelli P Zero racing slicks, and AP Racing brakes on all four corners. Speaking at the Melbourne unveiling, BMW Australia CEO Marc Werner, said the local event commences “another chapter of BMW motorsport in Australia”. “It’s the first motorsport program we’ve implemented since we exited Formula One in 2009,” Werner said. “And it just feels right to be back in motorsport. “Our partnership with Steven Richards Motorsport provides a unique customer racing program, with benchmark driving talent and expertise, full technical support and a great parts supply. “The initial response to this program from the general public has been sensational. And again, clearly confirms that BMW customers are performance fans willing to invest in their passion, to the point where we have several inquiries from customers wanting to switch from other brands.“And I’ll tell you that we use this unique opportunity not only as a pure brand exercise, but we will use it show our dear friends from Stuttgart [Porsche] and Ingolstadt [Audi], how real performance cars can drive.”

Werner said BMW had been taking note of the increasing global interest in customer racing, and in particular the GT championship, saying, “In our opinion, [GT racing is] the ideal platform to get customers on board and being part of a very exciting motorsport series.” “And that’s why we decided that this is the right arena for BMW to re-enter the motorsport arena.” On the topic of just how quickly he, and the team at SRM, managed to lock down the M6 GT3’s 2016 Australian GT campaign, the local head said it was all a matter of timing. “First of all, we were launching that car on a worldwide level. We launched the car in the US, we launched the car in Europe, we’re going to launch it in Japan and now we are launching it here in Australia. So it’s a global approach. “And with a global approach there comes significant support from headquarters. And if you have significant support from headquarters, then things usually work quite well. “We are committed to motorsport – I’m personally very, very much committed to motorsport. We’re passionate about this.

“Whatever BMW does in terms of motorsport, we’ve always shown that we are highly committed and usually quite successful. How successful we are going to be, that remains to be seen, however, I’m very confident that with the setup that we’ve chosen, we have the right support program, in particular, for our customers in place. And that is actually the most important thing. It’s about the customer. GT racing is really about the customer.” With rounds from the two local GT championships combined, the new BMW M6 GT3 will appear at Melbourne’s Albert Park for the 2016 Australian Formula One Grand Prix, at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway, Victoria’s Phillip Island, the Townsville 400 in Queensland, Sydney Motorsport Park, and New Zealand’s Highlands Park and Hampton Downs – along with its debut round in Adelaide. Neither BMW or SRM would confirm the car’s entry into next year’s 2017 Bathurst 12 Hour, however, Richards did say, “Clearly we want to have a couple – maybe two, maybe three cars – running at the 12 Hour.”

In a bonus for BMW, and for fans of the marque equalling celebrating the group’s centenary year, Richards’ M6 GT3 will carry the number #100 for the 2016 season. And for keen trainspotters, the car will be on track at Winton Raceway for its inaugural Australian shakedown on Monday, February 22. What do you think of the look of the all-new 2016 BMW M6 GT3? And do you think it can ‘out tough’ the likes of the Audi R8 LMS, Ferrari 488 GT3, Lamborghini Huracan GT3, McLaren 650S GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT3, Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, and Porsche 911 GT3?

First BMW M6 GT3 arrives in Australia Wednesday 17th February, 2016 Author: Stefan Bartholomaeus © Steven Richards Motorsport has taken delivery of its first BMW M6 GT3 ahead of the manufacturer’s entry into the Australian GT Championship this year. Richards and BMW plan on running two cars under the SRM Team BMW banner at selected AGTC events, starting with Albert Park in mid-March. The V8-powered M6 is a new homologation for the booming GT3 class in 2016, replacing the company’s ageing Z4. “It’s a pretty impressive piece of gear… I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited,” said Richards of the car’s arrival at his Dandenong workshop. “I’ve had a few new race cars in my time, but this one takes the cake. I just can’t wait to drive it.” Richards’ team is gearing up to run multiple customer cars in the category alongside its existing Carrera Cup program. “We’ve got all the technical backup and all the assistance from BMW in Germany to help us out, it’s just about getting familiar (with the car),” said Richards. “In terms of driving the car, that’s not going to be an issue. We’ll be able to get on the pace as soon as possible.” The four-time Bathurst 1000 winner added that next February’s Bathurst 12 Hour is already on his mind. “BMW would like to see three or four of these cars running in Australia,” he explained. “They see it as a great way to platform other marketing activities that they’ve got planned over the course of the next 12 months and two years. “There’s no doubt at the end of that a focus on the 12 Hour. That’s where we want to be in 2017 with a car that’s capable of winning the race.”