BMW's new automatic

The BMW Z4 Roadster will next year become the first BMW to use an automatic gearbox with paddle-shift control, according to an online report. "A formal announcement is expected in the very near future," says CARkeys, "but we gather that the unit will be a conventional automatic controlled by paddles mounted behind the steering wheel." Mercedes uses a similar style 7-speed automatic transmission in its top-of-the-line AMG models. Recently, both Mercedes and BMW have said they plan to plan to replace both F1-style automatics and SMG systems with dual-clutch transmissions. It's possible BMW has developed a paddle-shift automatic as a go-between until its dual-clutch transmission is ready for the 2008 model year.