M Boss says: 600 hp is the most you can get in an M car for now

In an interview with Autocar UK, BMW M boss Frank van Meel talkED about the future of the M brand, including subjects like the manual transmissions and horsepower limits for M cars.

In regards to dual-clutch transmissions and manuals, Van Meel says that the M brand now favors the use of DCTs and automatic gearboxes.

Van Meel said: “From a technical standpoint, the future doesn’t look bright for manual gearboxes. The DCT and auto ’boxes are faster and they have better fuel consumption.

Once again, an M boss hints at the disappearance of manuals in the future. “It’s difficult to say we’ll stick to the manual, but we still have a big fan community for manuals and we are not going to take away something the customer wants to have.”

Van Meel also said 600bhp is the current limit of an M car’s capability. “For now, 600bhp is the most you can get in an M car,” he said.

“We’re at the limit. If you go on adding more horsepower and torque, it’d probably be over the limits.”

Likely the next generation F90 M5 will output 600 horsepower and potentially more with the use of a Competition Package and the first optional xDrive system for an M sedan.