...likely going to be the manual transmission!
Although we don't have an OFFICIAL confirmation from BMW, if they're testing a manual transmission that's a pretty good sign. According to Edmunds, they spotted the car testing in SoCal.
Given that the vehicle is supposed to feature the X5/6M's turbo'd V8, which produces around 550 horsepower and sounds vaguely exotic, a manual transmission may be the very last item on option's list that will make this one of the best M products yet.
One weird thing though: forum users aren't that excited. According to them, the car's become too luxurious and too large.
Do you concur?
There's a very fortunate coincidence going on with the testing schedule of the 2012 BMW M5 and the commuting schedule of one of our guys. Seems like once a week he's rolling into the office with new spy photos of BMW's newest super sedan.
Last time we had details on the fixed calipers, 265/40ZR19 and 295/35ZR19 Pirelli P-Zero tires and the intercoolers. Today it's even better...
...we also saw that this car was equipped with a manual transmission...
[Source: Edmunds]
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