Bmw M5: M is for Manual

In a bigger swing than even George Bush expected, BMW has given in to American M5 buyers' whining and decided to offer a manual gearbox for its über-saloon.

Seems the Americans can't get their heads round the idea of a sports car that doesn't have a stick shift.

In the land of the automatic gearbox, this might seem strange, but American M5 cheque-toters have been holding back from signing on the line till they can have a manual 'box.

BMW in the USA is even going as far as offering the six-speeder manual as a no-cost option to the seven-speed sequential manual gearbox.

Tough decision. Do you want the extra swiftness of the SMG gearbox or the fun of chopping and changing ratios yourself?

But don't get your Euro hopes up. BMW says there are no plans to bring the manual gearbox to this side of the pond.

© Source: original article on topgear