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| M Double-clutch Transmission with Drivelogic |
| Always a step ahead |
| Perfect combination |
| M-specific Drivelogic |
| Sequential gearshift with paddles |
| Specifications BMW M3 |
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Shift Quicker, Drive Faster: The M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic.Source: BMW Group
BMW M GmbH is proud to be the world’s first car maker now offering a seven-speed Double Clutch Gearbox specially conceived and designed for a high-speed power unit. Compared with all conventional systems available so far, this new gearbox ensures an optimum gearshift and even more dynamic acceleration, and at the same time reduces fuel consumption by a signi-ficant margin.
The new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic shifts gears without the slightest interruption in the flow of power, thus promoting both the sports driving experience and gearshift comfort for the driver. In its gearshift characteristics, the new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic is ideally matched to the fast-revving V8 power unit in the new BMW M3. Making its debut on the same occasion in the BMW M3 Coupé, the BMW M3 Saloon and the BMW M3 Convertible, the new transmission helps to provide even faster and more dynamic acceleration.
Given these qualities, the seven-speed Double Clutch Gearbox offers particularly the sporting and ambitious driver an attractive alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox featured as standard. Maintaining a permanent flow of power from the engine, reducing gear increments to a minimum and using dynamic torque surge when shifting gears, the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic ensures a truly sporting experience at all times when shifting gears, whether in the automatic or manual mode.
A further essential point is that Drivelogic exclusive to BMW Mwith its five shift programs in the D- and six shift programs in the S-mode gives the driver the opportunity to tailor his BMW M3 individually to his personal style of motoring.
An even faster and more comfortable gearshift is ensured by the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic both in the automated (D-) mode and when driving in the manual (S-) mode.
The process of shifting gears is basically the same as on BMW’s proven Sequential M Gearbox, meaning that even when shifting gears manually there is no need for a clutch paddle and the driver may keep the gas pedal on the floor during the shift process as such.
To activate the D- or S-mode and to shift to reverse, the driver first has the choice of the new sports shift lever exclusive to the BMW M3, enabling the him to shift gears himself in the S-mode. In this case he moves the gearshift lever only along one line, that is in a sequential process.
As an alternative the driver is able to shift gears via paddles on the steering wheel, pulling the right-hand paddle to shift up, the left paddle to shift down.
Consistent enhancement of the automated manual gearbox.
As early as in 1996, the BMW M3 became the first production car in the world to feature a fully automated manual gearbox. In the years to come the Sequential M Gearbox ( SMG) was consistently enhanced and upgraded in two further generations, optimised in its control logic and enhanced by the addition of further functions.
In 2001 BMW M GmbH then presented the – again unique – Sequential M Gearbox with Drivelogic in the predecessor to the new BMW M3, enabling the driver to adjust gearshift characteristics according to his individual requirements and preferences.
The new M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic now offers further, consistent enhancement of the automated manual gearbox in BMW M GmbH’s high-performance sports cars. Similar to the Sequential M Gearbox featured so far, the new gearbox fulfils all the specific requirements coming from motorsport in the transmission of supreme engine power to the drive wheels and offers unique control and gearshift technology all enhanced to an unprecedented standard.
Once again, therefore, BMW M GmbH is setting a new benchmark in technology through this new gearshift concept. And like the three generations of the Sequential M Gearbox in the past, the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic immediately comes at the top of the market in terms of sporti-ness and driving pleasure in a production car.
Motorsport as the benchmark, top performance as the principle.
In its concept and operating principle, the Double Clutch Gearbox comes straight from motorsport. On the race track, where every tenth of a second is crucial to winning or losing, this unique gearshift concept has proven its value and benefits in the same way as the sequential gearshift used in Formula 1: Shifting up with his foot fully on the throttle and without the slightest interruption of torque and pulling force makes even a professional driver a few fractions of a second faster, giving him that small but incredibly important advantage on the track.
Moving over to production cars, the problem so far was that the gearshift comfort required in everyday use could only be achieved in combination with far less powerful engines and with far less torque. But now, for the first time, the benefits of a Double Clutch Gearbox are available for the first time even under supreme loads. The M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic is indeed the first power transmission of its kind the world over conceived and designed for engine speeds of up to 9,000 rpm.
A further advantage for the driver of a BMW M3 is the systematic control concept ensuring maximum driving dynamics also in motorsport: Gearshift paddles on the steering wheel guarantee a very fast and, at the same time, safe gearshift in all situations, the sequential shift pattern serving to minimise the risk of making a mistake when shifting gears.
