Minimization

No, I am not. The SMG III 7 speed indeed has its critics but it is from mostly people who have driven the car only a few times. It is an acquired taste for daily driving but from a performance point of view it is superior to the ZF 6 speed automatic. Better in level of control, frictional losses, shifting speed, and number of gears. The M5 in S6 mode on a track is absolutely brutally fast at what it does. Remember, it is not a slush box with a cheesy manual override, but a true semi-automatic.

No doubt the new longitudinal 7 speed DSG from VAG will be superior, along with the M3's new M DCT 7 speed, but what I ask is why didn't Audi ready this new tranny for the launch of their flagship beast?

So disappointed, since the 6 speed transverse DSG has been such a hit. Audi rushed the new RS6 to market. Beautiful engine coupled to an unfitting tarnny, just like in the C5 version.