[stryder]

I get the distinct feeling the SMG on the M3 and the MR2 are subsidized, because BMW and toyota want to test out the technology.

Especially on the MR2, it doesn't have a automatic mode, you always need to tell it when to shift, which I think is cool, but clearly some people want to just step on the gas and have the car work.

I have no idea how many M3's are sold, but surely the SMG isn't hugely popular on it, and tons of z4's aren't sold, so it'll continue to trickle down into more popular cars, and thus probably the price will drop. I rarely see MR2's (maybe because their styling is uhh, debatable..I reccall a friend whose dad got one, and said each dealer got exactly 2 a year).

With that said, I think it'd be a splendid idea, especially since all the theory of a CVT being better is probably true, but a CVT can't handle the torque yet and an SMG can, so lets not wait for technology to catchup, and put in the transmission.

One last thing: who needs a 2.0? its clearly possible to put more engineering into the 1.6 and make it better, variable timing (VANOS) already exists, just change the engine a bit and we're off. Maybe bore it out to a 1.7. 2.0 would be bigger and heavier, and probably overkill. 200hp normally aspirated should be easily optained from a 1.6 that's engineered more, you can supercharge and chip etc from there. Look at the engine 'porn' in the performance forum, clearly there's lots of room for more expensive finishing that will increase performance, cost cutting is evident.