The manual gearboxes are on the verge of extinction in the automotive industry, even more so in supercars. Automatic or “automated” transmissions are increasingly common, all for the sake of comfort. But there is a fascination with the purist formula, and a group insists on resisting.
That being said, it is necessary to recognize that the latest developments in the automotive sector are causing more and more manufacturers to replace manual transmissions with automatic ones (in the broadest sense of the term), with paddle shifters for manual-sequential control on the steering wheel, or simply automated. And also with hybrid, combustion, electric, or exclusively battery-powered engines.
Either way, the magic of driving a sports car with the use of three pedals, enhancing a greater man-machine connection, still fuels some of the fastest and most fascinating models. These are the last Mohicans, the five most powerful (still) equipped with a manual transmission.
Porsche 911 S/T – 525 hp
A recent addition to Porsche’s catalog, the 911 S/T, with production limited to just 1963 units, celebrates the pleasure of driving by focusing on low weight for a purist driving experience. The model combines the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine from the 911 GT3 RS, with 525 hp, and for the first time, it is paired with a short-ratio manual transmission. With an empty weight of only 1380 kg, which is 40 kg lighter than the 911 GT3 Touring with a manual transmission, the 911 S/T achieves 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 300 km/h. Prices start at €372,048.
BMW M3 Sedan – 480 hp
BMW makes some of the best automatic transmissions in the world, but in the current generation of the M3, it offers the inline-six, 3.0-liter engine, turbocharged, in two versions: 480 hp and 510 hp. The first one comes with a six-speed manual transmission, while the more powerful one features the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Starting at €116,900.
BMW M4 Coupé – 480 hp
Like the M3, the BMW M4 is also available with the inline-six engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology, delivering the same 480 hp to the rear axle, and with a six-speed manual transmission with Gear Shift Assistant system, which uses gear speed control to ensure smooth operation during aggressive braking. The Bavarian brand announces a 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.2 seconds. Starting at €117,900.
Ford Mustang Mach 1 – 460 hp
Reviving a historic name at Ford, the Mustang Mach 1 is available with the Tremec six-speed manual gearbox with automatic rev-matching, paired with the spectacular 5.0-V8 Coyote engine used in the Mustang GT, but with “stretched” power to 460 hp (plus 10 hp). For the rear-wheel drive coupe, Ford announces 4.8 seconds in the 0-100 km/h sprint and a top speed of 267 km/h. Available from €117,876.
Lotus Emira – 400 hp
The successor to the Elise, the Lotus Emira uses the 3.5-V6 engine sourced from Toyota, with a mechanical supercharger, to deliver 400 hp and 430 Nm, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The rear-wheel drive Lotus Emira V6 reaches 290 km/h and achieves 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, only 0.1 seconds slower than the automatic version. Starting from €143,340.
