Do stick shifts have a future? BMW's view

Americans are unique in their affection for the manual transmission, says Tom Purves, CEO of BMW North America. While clutchless manuals -- such as BMW's SMG and VW's DSG -- are gaining popularity worldwide, many U.S. purists aren't willing to give up their standard manual transmissions. "There's a great affection for the traditional manual gearbox among many enthusiasts. But only in the United States. Europe is more focused on Formula One, with the faster paddle shifters. In the U.S., the pinnacle of motor sports is NASCAR, and they have four on the floor. The Hollywood image of a race car driver is him shifting down here," Purves pointed out. "In the U.S., the automatic has been the standard transmission for years, and the manual transmission has been something more exotic. It still seems exotic and desirable." When asked what his personal preferences were, Purves said he would choose a regular manual for a small-engine car like an M3, but would pick SMG for cars with larger engines, such as the 500hp V10 M5.