[xlover]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

This press release seems pretty clear cut to me that that base will be 480hp 6MT while Competition will be 510 hp 8AT: https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1735162

I get your line of thinking but the exact wording doesn't preclude an auto version with 480hp. It just says the manual will be at 480 hp, and the competition will be 510 and only come in auto. I read the wording as bmw informing there will be no manual competition version not that there will be no auto base version.

The comp package is $7k usd on an x3m I expect it will be similar on the M3. Considering that auto models are by far the volume seller I can't see bmw forcing the full 7k on buyers who want auto, that is likely a 10% price premium for the consumer preferred variant. It just wouldn't make business sense to me. Now if you told me that all autos were 510hp and comp wasn't a price premium option, merely a designation of manual or auto then I could see it.