August
sees the introduction of the second generation of BMW’s Sequential ‘M’
Gearbox. Available only on the M3, SMG II is a clutchless manual gearbox drawing
on BMW’s Williams F1 transmission technology. With 11 separate programmes
which can be operated by two paddles behind the steering wheel, by the
traditional gear selector, or a mixture of both, it can also be driven in
self-selecting mode where the gear changes take place automatically. The SMG
option is priced at £2,400. BMW anticipate at least 50 per cent of UK customers
will request the SMG II option that is available on both the M3 Coupé and
Convertible.
A system unique to the M3 is ‘acceleration assistant’. This system allows
the driver to use the maximum possible acceleration from a standing start –
rather like launch control in an F1 car. An additional, practical function of
the SMG is the ‘climbing assistant’, which ensures that the car will pull
away on slopes without rolling backwards. This system can be used in both
automatic and sequential mode. We eagerly await the indicator assistant...