A major new technical feature on the new model is the fitting of BMW's new Sequential M Gearbox (SMG II) as standard in the M3's $136,500 recommended retail price, which will give drivers the closest gearchanging experience to a BMW WilliamsF1 car available on the road.
Superior to all previous dual mode gearboxes, SMG II offers the M3 driver an unprecedented choice of 11 separate shift programmes - six in the Sequential Manual mode and five in the Automatic mode.
Selecting 'Sequential' with the stubby central lever allows the driver to personalise the transmission by increasing the speed of the gearchange in six stages from the smooth S1 'Comfort' mode to the racing change S6 'Competition' mode, where changes take just 0.08 second.
This innovation available exclusively on the new M3, is made possible by the new Drivelogic management programme, which interacts with the M3's engine management system to vary the opening and closing of the throttle and the action of the clutch.
For those involved in club motorsport, or events like the Trading Post Grand Prix Rally and Targa Tasmania, there is also a special 'Racing Start Assist' programme which allows the driver to 'launch' the car F1 style, with maximum traction and acceleration through its interaction with the M3's standard M differential lock, DSC III with ASC + T and CBC traction and stability control systems.
The M3 driver can select these modes at will on the move, as circumstances require.
Another major change over the previous SMG I gearbox is that the manual sequential changes can now be controlled by a pair of steering-wheel mounted F1-style shift paddles, with the driver pulling the right paddle to change upwards through the six speed gearbox and pulling the left to change down, with changes occurring in as quick as 0.08 second in the Competition mode.
Alternatively, sequential manual changes can be made by moving the central gear lever forwards or backwards to change up, or down, as with the previous SMG I transmission.
At any stage such as when encountering traffic - the driver can also tap the shift selector lever across to the Automatic mode, where five separate programmes are selected by the transmission's Drivelogic programme, depending on the aggressiveness of the inputs on steering, brakes and accelerator.
In Automatic mode, the transmission thus behaves like the current state-of-the-art BMW Steptronic transmission with AGS, which is fitted as standard to other BMW six and eight cylinder 3, 5 and 7 Series models.
Those preferring a conventional six-speed manual gearbox with no alternative mode settings, can specify this transmission on their M3 at no extra cost. |
