Imhotep Evil

Well a DSG isn't more effective on downshifts vs. a manual, only on upshifts, but the SMG III is almost 10 times faster than a manual on both downshifts and upshifts. That's in best case scenario for both SMG III and manual.

Sequential clutches used in F1 are by far the most effective transmissions since they're seamless, incorporate a computer control-ed clutch (except for start) and are specially build for the engine's caracteristics (torque/power curves, top RPM, minimal RPM at witch the engined can be geared).
Basically that means change some of those caracterisitcs and you have to change the clutch.

If you want and engine for both manual and sequential you have to make compromises.

It means it will be one of the 3:
- optimised for the manual
- optimised for the sequential
- jack of all trades master of none


The S85 was build to be a torque wimp vs. the AMG V8/LS7, but it could be geared lower and with the SMG III shifted faster and it has shorter gear ratios.

No matter how good a manual and driver is the low(er) torque, would have been visible, so BMW also have increase the torque to match the AMG, but it that case it couldn't have incorporated the SMG III witch could only stand up to 550 Nm of torque (and F1 sequentials a lot less).


In the V10 architecture is wrong perhaps in the first place.

The V10 was born/adopted/took off in F1 because it was THE super high-rever architecture (with the pneumatic valve gear).
It could outrev thus outpower the V8s and V12s and because of the sequential transmission and variable exhaust it could use ruthlessly effective it's relatively low amount of torque (little torque but no paper torque).

Just_me

I have tried both SMG and DSG so I would opt for these over manual. I have driven manuals for 12 years, its getting boring (almost)

BMW_Dude

Thanks IE for the detailed answer!

I never actually knew that the S85 was built for the SMG gearbox, and that was the reason why it had quite low torque!

Imhotep Evil

They were actually build for each other the S85 and SMG III.