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BMW Chose Control Over Out-And-Out Shift Speed For the New M3/M4 Transmission

In its latest video, BMW has taken six minutes to explain the reasoning behind its decision to fit the new M3 and M4 with a torque converter automatic transmission instead of a dual-clutch one.

With the help of a transmission designer named Karsten, the advantages of the torque converter gearbox are outlined. The move away from a DCT transmission in any M car is noteworthy because its speed is hard to beat.

“Yes, changing gear with a double-clutch transmission is even faster and sharper with the optimal gear because it can also use inertia, which we can’t with a torque converter transmission,” says Karsten.

Despite that, the M3 and the M4 now use a slightly slower torque converter transmission because it’s a question of considering the full package. These are known to be smoother at low speeds, which makes them better for luxury applications.

Their sluggishness made them unfashionable for performance cars in the oughts and the early teens, but they recently had a renaissance. Thanks to the hard work of people like Karsten, torque converter transmission shift speeds have improved and this one can shift gears in as little as 150 milliseconds. There are other advantages, too.

“With the torque converter transmission, through the converter lock-up clutch and the direct clutch to clutch shift, we now have, in principle, all gears pre-selected,” says Karsten. “Whereby with the double-clutch transmission, just one other gear can be preselected, which means that you can shift very quickly into this gear. If you decide on a different gear, then the gear shift is not optimal.”

That means that drivers have better shifts more of the time, and smoother changes at low speeds. Indeed, BMW feels it’s the best transmission for even high-performance applications like the M3/M4.

“I think the gear change is pretty close to perfection both as regards speed and comfort,” says Karsten.

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Is The New BMW M3 Competition Better To Drive Than The Alfa Romeo Giulia QV?

The first reviews of the controversially-styled 2021 BMW M3 are out and in this clip, Piston Heads compares it to one of the finest sports sedans of recent years, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

Featured in this video is the flagship M3 Competition variant, albeit not one equipped with the optional all-wheel drive system. It is finished in grey and if you can ignore the massive kidney grilles, certainly has an aggressive shape and lots of road presence. Does it look as good as the Alfa Romeo? Of course not.

Powering the M3 Competition is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six with 503 hp, matching up perfectly with the Giulia Quadrifoglio that rocks a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with the exact same output. Both are rear-wheel drive and use automatic transmissions, rather than dual-clutch gearboxes.

One of the first comments the reviewer makes about the M3 relates to its suspension setup. He says that even when driven in Comfort mode, the ride is firm, and questions whether buyers in the UK will ever be able to change the suspension into its even firmer Sport and Sport+ settings. He also isn’t a big fan of how the new engine sounds but does say it is very, very fast.

Compared to the previous-generation M3, this new one handles much better and delivers a more refined driving experience. Sure, the eight-speed automatic transmission isn’t as snappy as some dual-clutch ones, but it does the job.

However, can the all-new M3 Competition beat the Giulia Quadrifoglio? Watch the full review to find out.

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Audi Q7/Q8, Mercedes GLE, BMW X5/X6, Volvo XC90, Lexus RX And Range Rover Sport Compete In Off-Road Trial

Finding an absolute winner when it comes to all-wheel drive systems can be extremely difficult, as various other factors such as engines, tires, weight and even the driver can prove just as important as the actual tech sending power to both axles.

However, the guys over at the SUV Battle YouTube channel did a good job getting all these direct rivals together and having them compete over a steep dirt incline.

The following SUVs were called upon to showcase what their all-wheel drive systems are capable of: the 2020 Audi Q8, 2019 Mercedes GLE, 2019 BMW X5, 2019 BMW X6, 2019 Volvo XC90, 2019 Lexus RX 350, 2019 Range Rover Sport and 2018 Audi Q7, plus a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Multiple runs were carried with most of these SUVs – except for the Grand Cherokee, but that’s alright seen as how it’s not quite a direct rival for all of the other models here.

In the end, they realized that having just one driver perform all the runs was a better way to benchmark the AWD systems, and the results were reasonably conclusive. It’s too bad they couldn’t get similarly-powered engines for all the vehicles. The Range Rover Sport had the most powerful engine, so there’s no surprise that it performed really well.

What was a bit surprising was seeing the BMW X5 struggling to climb up the hill, while the X6 performed much better, although different drivers were involved, so we’ve got to factor that in.

Other models that stood out, although not necessarily in a good way, were the Volvo XC90 and Lexus RX, both of which underperformed, especially the Lexus. Meanwhile, the Audi Q8 climbed the hill as if it was in the middle of filming a commercial for Audi’s quattro AWD system.

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The BMW M2 CS And Jaguar F-Type Are More Evenly Matched Than You May Think

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Both BMW and Jaguar have long and proud histories of producing some of the industry’s finest sports cars, and the M2 CS and F-Type are among the best.

In the most recent review from Lovecars starring Tiff Needell, the M2 CS and the facelifted F-Type go toe-to-toe on a tight and twisty track before heading out onto the open road. While the M2 CS and F-Type are not direct rivals, they offer similar performance and, in the UK at least, carry similar price tags.

The F-Type featured in this clip is a new variant dubbed the P450. This model uses Jaguar’s 5.0-liter supercharged V8 but has been detuned to 444 hp and 428 lb-ft (580 Nm) of torque. This engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear- or, optionally, all-wheel. The example tested had the all-wheel drive system and can hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.4 seconds while reaching a 177 mph (285 km/h) top speed.

By comparison, the M2 CS features a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder that is good for 444 hp and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque. Unlike the F-Type, the M2 CS tested came with a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s rear-wheel drive but, because it weighs less, it is quicker off the line than the Jaguar, hitting 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and maxing out at 174 mph (280 km/h).

During the track tests, the Jaguar was 0.8 seconds slower than the M2 CS. Considering its added weight, that’s not too bad.

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Maybach 62 And BMW 760Li Are, Despite Their Heft, Surprisingly Quick

The Maybach 57 and Maybach 62 were the ultra-luxurious sedans of the early 2000s, and while new Mercedes-Maybach models are far more luxurious and much faster, the original was an interesting, if polarizing, car.

Eager to see how the Maybach 62 has aged, CarWow put it to the test alongside an older BMW 760Li for a series of performance tests.

It’s worth mentioning right away that the 62 and the 760Li can hardly be considered direct rivals, as the Maybach launched roughly seven years before this BMW. This range-topping Maybach 62 is also significantly larger than the BMW and weighs roughly 1,100 lbs (500 kg) more.

In terms of power, the Maybach featured has a twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12 with 551 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. By comparison, the 760Li tested uses a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 rated at 545 hp and 553 lb-ft (700 Nm). Both cars send power to the rear wheels through automatic transmissions.

In a race from a standstill, the BMW easily comes on top, completing the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds compared to the 13.6 seconds required by the Maybach. In a rolling race, the 62 performs surprisingly well as its five-speed automatic transmission kicks down and picks up quite nicely. However, once the speeds increase, the BMW storms past.

It goes without saying that those in the market for models like these aren’t all that interested in straight-line performance so much but rather luxury and amenities. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how those two old-timers compare.

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