Why do you need an extra gear? Five gears for acceleration and make 6th as long as they are planning on making this '7th' gear. I don't see why they need another gear, it's heavier and makes the shifter more complicated. Honestly, the only time you use 6th is on the freeway and if you want to pass somebody you can use.......... the other gears! So I'm all for lowering the revs in the final gear and increasing fuel economy but why do they need another gear to this? My mom's F10 5-series has an 8-speed and it changes up 4 (FOUR) times from the time it leaves from a red light and crosses the other side of the intersection, that's my only complaint with the car. It is always shifting. I realize that's an automatic but ZF is now working on a 9-speed. When will this stop? Just increase the ratio of 6th and call it a day.