[fishpond]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

Well coming from a DCT M transmission its a night and day..

On the factory tour event last September, I asked the engineers why they didn't use a DCT transmission and their response was simply that they didn't think it needed it.

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by fishpond

On the factory tour event last September, I asked the engineers why they didn't use a DCT transmission and their response was simply that they didn't think it needed it.

:doublefacepalm:

Your strikingly futuristic flagship i car that's supposed to represent technologies that will drive BMW forward, and you throw in a 6AT from 2003?

That said, I know the 6AT in this is transverse, and I didn't see any transverse units from ZF. Aisin makes an eight speed.

[NGR]

Suspect they had trouble finding a decent tranny to fit transverse in the space allowed - possibly explains (at least partly) why the engine is only 3 cylinders long rather than 4.
Maybe the ZF trannies are too long to fit or even too wide and would mean no back seats? Maybe the weight distribution of a ZF or DCT would upset the weight distribution?

There's is all sorts of space-taking voodoo in the i8 that 'normal' cars don't have shoehorned in such as brake regen.

We also have a small electric motor filling in for the gearbox as it shifts ensuring linear power delivery that the Saab probably didn't have.

We'll probably never know the real answer, I suspect it comes down to the platform's real purpose which is to be a test-bed for the e-drive, carbon composites, regen tech and other lightweight shenanigans.

[SteveB_UK]

I find the gearbox ok. Auto changes are smooth and manual as fast as any dual clutch. By fast I mean the time you wait after pulling the paddle. The actual change may not take 9ms like VAG DSG but I found the time the software took from paddle pull to change was not particularly quick in VAG/PDK. Or any dual clutch I've tried.

All paddle boxes are actually faster than the average driver changes gear but as you're brain is busy operating the clutch and gear stick you don't notice the time a manual change takes, but after you've pulled the paddle you're sat there waiting for the change.

In terms of getting in the right gear for a corner, in comfort mode it's as crap as any car I've tried or owned (e.g. 991 PDK, VAG RS/R, AMG 45, M, i8).

All of them (in comfort/standard/etc) don't detect you've braked or lifted and are turning in and fumble for a gear once you get back on the throttle. I always pre-empt this with a couple of paddle pulls as I approach a corner or roundabout I want to drive properly.

The sport modes vary and I found overall that the GLA 45 AMG having the best software. The i8s is ok but does get a bit tiring for normal road use.

Ultimately, if you want to be in the right gear (for you) at the right time, prevent a change up so you can hang onto the revs or play with the throttle at high rpm mid corner then manual mode is the only way in any auto IMO.

As for the box choice it will be all about weight and packaging. And they've made an old and average box perform well with clever software. Much like Lotus have in the Evora 400 IPS. Both saving significant weight/space over a dual clutch transmission.

[SCOTT26]

Now in Testing.

http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1354657

[MalibuBimmer]

That looks like a cabriolet.

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Now in Testing.

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

That looks like a cabriolet.

2019 i8 Spyder

[stressdoc]

Yup. Thanks Scott!

[cooks02]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Now in Testing.

PLEASE MORE DETAILS! I may not sleep tonight

[ericsi]

According to my dealer, the i8 spider is the only future model they are taking deposits for. It's bmw parklane in London.

The fact that they lose the teo small rear seats loses some of the appeal for me.

I would much prefer a glass roof.

[cooks02]

Originally Posted by ericsi

According to my dealer, the i8 spider is the only future model they are taking deposits for. It's bmw parklane in London.

The fact that they lose the teo small rear seats loses some of the appeal for me.

I would much prefer a glass roof.

It appears to have NO roof? It would have to at least have a " soft " top. Correct?

[stressdoc]

Two-piece folding roof.
Not a fan of topless cars, too much weight, needs a CF brace IMO.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by ericsi

The fact that they lose the teo small rear seats loses some of the appeal for me.

.

Same here. It was a significant selling point of the i8 for me.

Far more usable than my 2 seater cars.

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by cooks02

It appears to have NO roof? It would have to at least have a " soft " top. Correct?

BMW spoke about a folding soft top which folds into the rear seat area. The rear seats would be lost for the folding roof, but there would be some storage space in that area for baggage etc.

Interestingly the report in the other thread suggest a targa style roof!