In a follow-up to his remarks concerning electric M models, Frank van Meel told Australia’s caradvice.com.au that manual ‘boxes will continue to be offered as long as there is demand, but added that the shift towards autonomous technology would eventually seal its fate.

“Buyers vote with their wallets. Being an engineer I would say from a rational standpoint that even though the manual gearbox is lighter than an automated gearbox it uses more fuel and is slower, so it doesn't really make sense,” van Meel said.

“But from the emotional standpoint, a lot of customers say 'I don't care, I want to have one'. As long as we have these take rates on M2, but also the M3 and M4, we're going to offer manuals because we listen to our customers. If demand is so high, then why not fulfill it? The bad news is that if we one day have autonomous cars, then the manual cannot work anymore, so that would be, let's say, the natural end”.

Asked about the new generation of front-wheel drive models that will include the next 1-series, van Meel said that the platform will provide a challenge in terms of providing a “typical M feel which goes more naturally with rear-wheel drive”.

“The segment is big for us and of course it’s very attractive, it’s the entry-level segment to M. The question is what kind of M and which cars of that segment would fit,” he said, adding that these models might even carry the M Performance moniker instead of being full-blown M models.

While the next 2-series will reportedly retain its rear-wheel drive layout, the 1-series, slated for reveal towards the end of this year or in early 2019, will switch drivelines and ride on an adaption of Mini’s UKL architecture known as FAAR, which also supports a full electric powertrain as well as xDrive all-wheel drive.