The manual transmission is not as ubiquitous now as it was 30 years ago, but manual gearboxes are still popular with a subset of enthusiast buyers. A solid selection of great performance cars can still be had with a third pedal, and we're thankful for that. But many other new performance models are not so lucky, as automakers have increasingly turned to quick-shifting automatics in their top-end powertrains. But manufacturers still have time to repent, and here we've assembled a list of cars that are begging for manual transmissions. These are the cars that would instantly become more interesting if they were offered with a stick-shift.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
The ZR1 is faster, but the naturally aspirated Corvette Z06 may just be the peak of what the C8-generation sports car was meant to be. A high-revving flat-plane crank V-8 makes it one of the most spectacular American cars ever built, but like every other C8 Corvette, it lacks the once-traditional manual gearbox. Building a mid-engined car with a manual transmission is a challenge, but we think it would be worth it.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Porsche still offers a manual transmission in its excellent 911 GT3 and has even expanded manual 911 offerings with special editions such as the S/T and Sport Classic that effectively serve as manual variants of the GT3 RS and Turbo S. The 718 RS twins, however, have not been so lucky. The most extreme Cayman and Boxster ever built are still available only with PDK dual-clutch automatic gearboxes.
Reviewed: Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin's smaller grand tourer is a seriously thrilling car to drive, but its powerful Mercedes V-8 and muscular design can only be enjoyed with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A special edition of the pre-update Vantage was available with a seven-speed manual, so there is some hope that Aston Martin brings the third pedal back for this one at some point, too.
Tested: Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Lamborghini Revuelto
For most of its history, Lamborghini offered its spectacular V-12 flagships with manual gearboxes. That changed during the life of the Murcielago, and both the Aventador and the new Revuelto have debuted without the option. Adapting a manual gearbox for the hybrid Revuelto would be a substantial engineering challenge, but a gated six-speed would make the 1001-horsepower supercar one of the coolest cars ever sold.
Road & Track's 2025 Performance Car of the Year
Ferrari 12Cilindri
Thankfully, Ferrari is still building front-engined supercars with V-12 power. The original formula that made the Prancing Horse famous in the 1950s and 1960s persists, but without the beloved gated manual transmissions of the past. Ferrari could be bringing those gearboxes back to limited-run models in the near future. The brand would be wise to bring that new manual to its full-production 12Cilindri, too.
Honda Prelude
The revived Prelude notably lacks any sort of transmission. The car instead uses the same gas-electric powertrain currently seen in hybrid variants of the Civic and Accord, which uses a complicated dual-motor system in place of a conventional automatic gearbox. While we have yet to drive the new Prelude, we're confident that the stylish new coupe would be a blast with the more traditional nonhybrid four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission pairings found in the Civic Si or even the more extreme Civic Type R.
Some Type R Parts Will Be In the Prelude, Too
BMW M5 Touring
BMW has not sold a manual-transmission M5 since it made a small run of three-pedal F10-generation cars developed specifically for the U.S. market. Adding one now would be a huge challenge, because the latest M5 is a plug-in hybrid. Those signs suggest that the big M car is unlikely to ever get an H-pattern six-speed again, which is a particularly big shame because the current M5 is the first offered in America as a wagon. Who doesn't want a manual M5 wagon?
Lexus IS 500 F Sport
Sadly, the Lexus IS 500 seems to be on its way out. Its burly, high-revving V-8 would have been the perfect pair for a manual transmission, but Lexus seems content to retire its eight-cylinder sport sedan before that dream could be realized.
Reviewed: Lexus IS 500 F Sport
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Unlike the other cars on this list, the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N does not even have an internal combustion engine. It does, however, have simulated gearshifts meant to invoke the experience of a more conventional performance car. The Ioniq 5 N may not make any sense with a real mechanical manual gearbox, but an even more immersive system with a simulated clutch and H-pattern shifter could add to the charm of what is already one of the most delightful cars on the market today.
One of Road & Track's 2025 Performance EVs of the Year
Kia K4
Manual transmissions were once the standard for affordable compact cars, but even optional manuals are now consigned mostly to performance models as older generations of these cheap cars disappear. This is particularly disappointing because some of these cars, like the upcoming Kia K4 hatch, look better than ever. The K4 would be even more appealing with a six-speed gearbox to pair with its optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine.
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