September Issue BMW Car Magazine...E46 330CI SSG (???)

[Mikedav]

Everyone go buy this months BMW Car (when it hits the USA of course)...it has some interesting stuff in it:

New Z4M Spyshots
Hampshire Police have bought X5s to expand the Police fleet to 50 BMWs
Test on new 740il
Alpina B10
E46 SSG...Yes, SSG

They test this new gearbox- SSG, anyone seen it? Its a cross between a steptronic and SMG- not as harsh to drive as the SMG, meant to be an improvement. Looks a lot better visually than SMG to me (which looks like a toy...) and seems to be a nice compromise...thoughts anyone?

[AKUFC]

So is this still an auto or is there a clutch but this just has + - instead of 1st 2nd 3rd etc ??

[Mikedav]

Originally posted by AKUFC
So is this still an auto or is there a clutch but this just has + - instead of 1st 2nd 3rd etc ??

No (manual) clutch, works like SMG. They say its not as good as a tiptronic at being an auto, but its more relaxing and fun to use than the harsh, over the top changes of SMG. It shifts in 150 milliseconds, which isnt even half as quick as SMG- but its a lot smoother apparently, and a lot more fun. Basically, its a tip and SMG combined for a non race car

[AKUFC]

Thats cool. My moms TL has sportronic shifts pretty quick for a daily luxury vehicle but its still an auto just a fancy auto

[eMed_out]

is this a BMW concept...like SMG for the M's and SSG for the rest of the fleet?....

[Mikedav]

Originally posted by eMed_out
is this a BMW concept...like SMG for the M's and SSG for the rest of the fleet?....

From what I understand, yes- the test car was a 330Ci. Apparently only 9% of UK cars are sold with SSG though at the moment...everyone else goes for Tiptronic (34%) or manual (57%)

[PasadenaE24]

wtf is the C on the gear selector?

[zooyorktactical]

cruise ?