07/09/2008 18:47. BMW's corporate tag line boasts that the German car company makes "the ultimate driving machine." That's not one driving machine, mind you. Every car wearing the BMW label aims to elevate driving from mundane transportation to engaging and exhilarating entertainment. Providing superior power, zip, road grip and dynamic management, BMW vehicles attract people who like to drive with gusto.

That's why so many BMWs are still sold with manual transmissions. A lot of their drivers covet the maximum control that only manual shifting provides.

But even a luxury brand like BMW must compromise to keep its models from getting too pricey. And it must tune them for a large enough audience to keep the company financially fit. BMW must sell cars not just to hard drivers, but also to people who want... // Eagle Tribune