xDrive will be available on BMW M vehicles in the near future

BMW xDrive

In spring 2012, BMW M GmbH will unveil a new product range for drivers seeking a particularly sporty driving experience, Dr Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW M GmbH said on Thursday.

Nitschke announced plans for further additions to the new product line-up, referring to “a range including a wide variety of model series, as well as both petrol and diesel-engined variants”.

The intelligent all-wheel-drive system BMW xDrive would also play a significant role in the BMW M Performance Automobiles, he added.

The announcement comes shortly after the company announced it will indeed offer the new M5, which debuts later this summer as a 2013 model, with the option of a six-speed manual transmission in addition to the seven-speed M-DCT gearbox.

And, as expected, the manual option will only be offered in North American markets. It will be a no-cost alternative to the standard seven-speed M-DCT dual clutch gearbox offered on overseas models.

“The manual gearbox was a popular choice for U.S. customers of the previous generation M5 and continues to be a unique offer in the segment,” BMW said in a statement.

The F10 BMW M5 is scheduled to arrive in showrooms across the US late this summer, but BMW has not announced the pricing so far.

Source: INAUTONEWS