Latest news with #manualtransmission
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Manual BMW Z4 Won't Die Because Too Many People Have Good Taste
Despite the fact it was initially rumored to be discontinued in October of this year, the G29 BMW Z4 is going to live on for a while longer. This is wonderful news for people who appreciate good styling, lots of horsepower, a manual transmission and — most importantly — a convertible roof. A new report from BMW Blog suggests that BMW will end most Z4 production in March of 2026, however, the U.S.-spec M40i (and its six-speed manual transmission) will live on for a bit longer. One of the outlet's trusted sources on the Bimmer Post forum said the Z4 in its M Performance trim will soldier on in the U.S. for an additional two months — until May of 2026. That same source also claimed that this is when the final U.S.-spec Supra will be built. Extending the Z4's life isn't a total surprise. As more enthusiasts look for analog options, deliveries in the first quarter of 2025 rose by 4.2% to 2,436 units when compared with the same time last year, according to BMW Blog. Sales of the Z4 jumped by 13.1% in 2024 after BMW made the manual available in the U.S., Motor1 reports People year for rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. I get it. The Z4 M40i is one of the few BMWs you can still buy with a stick shift, joined only by the M2 and base versions of the M3 and M4. Read more: No Spare? No Problem. Here's What Every Car Should Carry In Case Of A Flat Despite this good news, it's not looking like the Z4 will be around forever. Right now, there's no plan for a successor to the little two-seater. It's not exactly a surprise. Sure, it's selling OK, but convertible sales continue to fall and the enthusiast market is shrinking. Toyota has said there will be a next-generation Supra, but BMW doesn't intend to join up with the Japanese automaker for its own version of the car. So, if you're the type of smart person who wants a manual Z4, you better act now. Just make sure you've got some deep-ish pockets. A turbocharged 2.0-liter Z4 sDrive30i — which only comes with an automatic — starts at $56,175. If you want the manual, you've got to jump up to the M40 with its 382-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6. That's going to set you back $71,825. If you have the means, I do suggest picking one up. However, if you don't, I'd be willing to part with my manual 2007 Z4 3.0SI for just a fraction of that price. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Motor 1
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
BMW to Keep Making Z4 Because People Keep Buying Them: Report
The BMW Z4 might be sticking around for longer than expected. The German roadster was rumored to bow out in October 2025, though a report dating back to 2023 suggested production had been extended to March of next year. Now, a new rumor claims Z4 production has been stretched even further, to May 2026—but only for American-market cars. BMW Blog , citing a trusted source at the Bimmerpost forums, says production of the US-specification Z4 M40i—the only trim available with a manual transmission—has been extended another two months. The source doesn't cite a reason for the extension, but we can make a couple of educated guesses. Photo by: BMW USA Sales of the Z4 jumped by 13.1 percent in 2024 after BMW finally made the manual transmission available in the United States. A spokesperson confirmed to Motor1 earlier this year that the stick shift "absolutely" contributed to the Z4's sales growth. "The response has been wonderfully enthusiastic," they said. Upon seeing the increase in sales, BMW likely decided to keep the Z4 around for a bit longer. And with the manual expected to disappear from the company's lineup entirely by 2030, the company potentially predicts sales will continue as buyers snag the very last manual Z4s before they're gone forever. The same Bimmerpost source claims May 2026 is also when production of the Toyota Supra will end. Avid enthusiasts will know the Supra and the Z4 share a platform, and are built on the same assembly line by Magna Steyr in Austria. So that makes sense. But while Toyota has already confirmed a replacement for the outgoing Supra, BMW has made no such promise. With sales of sports cars and convertibles declining every year, we wouldn't be surprised to see the company discontinue the car for good, at least in its current form. Our advice? If you want a manual Z4, grab one while you still can. Because time is running out. More on the Z4 Here's Why The Manual Z4 Is BMW's Best Car Right Now Every Manual Car You Can Still Buy in 2025 Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Car and Driver
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Report: Nissan Stops Production of the Manual-Transmission Versa
Nissan has halted production of the manual-transmission Versa, according to a report from Automotive News. The Versa five-speed is the most affordable car on sale in the U.S. for the 2025 model year, starting at just $18,330. Fewer than 5 percent of Versas sold last year had the manual gearbox, and the 25 percent tariff on the Mexico-made sedan seems to have been the final nail in the coffin. UPDATE 5/29/25, 1:27 p.m.: Nissan confirmed that production of the manual-transmission Versa S has ended, and that production continues for the rest of the Versa lineup. In a statement, Nissan said, "We are focusing on the most popular Versa grades that deliver the strongest business performance and are in line with what customers are looking for from this type of sedan." Manual transmissions are increasingly rare in new cars, having mostly found refuge in high-performance sports cars such as the Porsche 911 or Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing. Just a handful of affordable, mainstream models still let you row your own gears, and the five-speed-equipped Nissan Versa also held the special distinction of being the most affordable new car on the market. But now it appears that the manual-transmission Versa's time has come to an end, with Automotive News reporting that production of the Versa five-speed has stopped. The publication stated that a "person with knowledge of the matter" revealed that Nissan's factory in Aguascalientes, Mexico, is no longer assembling the manual-transmission Versa, although the CVT-equipped model continues in production. According to Automotive News, Nissan says the company is focusing on the "most popular" trims that have the "strongest business performance." We've reached out to Nissan for confirmation and will update this story when we've heard back. Nissan The reasons for killing off the Versa five-speed are likely twofold. For starters, very few people were opting for the Versa's DIY gearbox. Automotive News states that fewer than 5 percent of the 42,589 Versas sold last year had the five-speed transmission. That means only around 2000 Versas sold last year had the manual gearbox, already making it hard to justify keeping it around. But this tough business case for such a niche product was compounded by the 25 percent tariff on imported cars implemented by the Trump administration, which affects the Versa given its Mexican provenance. The manual-transmission Versa is the lowest-priced new car on the market for the 2025 model year, starting at $18,330, so a 25 percent tariff adds around $4500 to that price. While automakers might be able to absorb tariff costs on higher-priced vehicles while still returning a profit, the typically thin profit margins on affordable cars make such an increase far more damaging. Nissan previously projected that the tariffs could cost the automaker around $3.1 billion during the fiscal year that concludes next March. Nissan Removing the manual transmission will minimally affect sales while also simplifying the number of variants the Aguascalientes factory needs to produce, making the production process more efficient. While it's a shame to see another manual bite the dust, it's an understandable decision from Nissan, especially given the brand's recent financial troubles. With the manual transmission departing, the Versa will remain the most affordable car on the market, but its base price will likely rise to $20,130. But the Versa itself is not long for this world, expected to be discontinued within the next year as Nissan pares its sedan lineup from three models down to one. A next-generation Sentra is expected to grow in size to serve as a replacement for both the current Sentra and Altima, while the potential Versa customers will instead be directed to the $23,220 Kicks SUV. Caleb Miller Associate News Editor Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Motor 1
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Last Five-Speed Manual Is Dead
Manual transmissions aren't as popular as they used to be, and now, buyers will have one fewer option going forward. Nissan has allegedly ended production of the manual-equipped Versa , killing off the cheapest car you can buy in America today, and the last five-speed on the market. An unnamed source 'with knowledge of the matter' revealed to Automotive News that the Japanese automaker has halted making the Versa with the five-speed manual at its Aguascalientes, Mexico, factory. Motor1 reached out to Nissan for a comment about the alleged production stoppage, and a spokesperson confirmed "Versa S manual production will cease, while the rest of the Versa lineup continues as usual." Nissan said in a statement to Motor1 : 'We remain committed to offering a line-up that answers the evolving needs of customers and maintains Nissan's competitive edge. We are focusing on the most popular Versa grades that deliver the strongest business performance and are in line with what customers are looking for from this type of sedan.' Photo by: Nissan Nissan only offered the manual transmission on the entry-level Versa S, which starts at $18,330 (all prices include the $1,140 destination charge) for 2025. However, with that spec apparently dead, the Versa S with a continuously-variable transmission is now the brand's cheapest offering, at $20,130. With new car prices remaining at an all-time high and the threat of tariffs potentially increasing the cost of many new vehicles Nissan's more affordable models have seen an explosion in sales. The Versa was up 156 percent through the first three months of 2025. The Sentra , Altima , and Kicks , which all start at under $30,000, were also all up by wide margins. Photo by: Nissan Despite the Versa's popularity, the manual only accounted for less than five percent of the model's total sales according to Automotive News , and this could be the first sign things are coming to an end for the Versa model. There's speculation that Nissan will completely discontinue the Versa after the 2025 model year , replacing it with an electric sedan, but details are murky. That rumor started when Versa sales were struggling, but the market has changed, with the price of new cars only creeping upward. It seems that consumers do want cheap offerings, but don't want to shift their own gears. While the Versa was the last five-speed manual vehicle on sale in America, there are still plenty of six-speed options still available . Nissan Is Going Through Some Things: Nissan Might Sell Its Home to Survive: Report The Nissan Sentra Might Soon Be an American-Made Sedan Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Automotive News Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Death knell for a century-old driving skill: It is rapidly becoming a dying art that electric cars will kill off entirely
A driving skill the majority of motorists perfected when taking their driving test is rapidly becoming a dying art - and one that will disappear entirely when electric cars become mainstream. The act of changing gear is 'on its way out', with vehicle manufacturers already culling manual gearboxes, according to a market review. It found that just 96 models in showrooms today are available with a manual transmission. In contrast, there are 404 new cars to buy that come exclusively with automatic gearboxes. It means fewer than a fifth of new models now have a traditional gearstick - a feature that dates back to the 1891 Panhard et Levassor, the vehicle widely recognised as the first with a manual transmission. And the skill of changing gear is likely to become obsolete entirely in new models once the sale of new petrol and diesel models is banned in 2030 and car makers can only sell hybrid and electric vehicles in showrooms - both of which use automatic gearboxes. It also appears young drivers are preparing for this transition, with auto-only driving tests on the rise as new motorists ditch changing gear. Almost one in four learners are now choosing to take their test in an automatic car, according to the latest figures published by the DVSA. Of the 1,945,225 practical driving tests sat in the financial year 2023/24, 445,276 did so in automatics. This represents 23.4 per cent of all tests. It was a sharp increase on the year previous when just 19.2 per cent of tests (324,064 of 1,688,955) were auto-only. Five years earlier (2019/20), automatic driving tests accounted for just 12.7 of all practical tests; and wind the clocks back a decade (to 2014/15) and they represented a mere 6.9 per cent of tests. It means auto-only has risen from less than one in fourteen driving tests 10 years ago to one in four today. However, pass rates in automatics - despite the general belief that they are easier to drive - are statistically lower. In the last fiscal year, the pass rate for auto-only tests was just 42.8 per cent; for all driving tests, the average pass rate was 47.9 per cent. The acceleration in popularity is despite auto-only licence holders facing one major restriction. Anyone who passes in a manual car can legally drive any motor irrespective of its gearbox, but those who take auto-only tests are limited to only automatic vehicles. While this could pose problematic in some scenarios, such as when drivers want to rent motors abroad and face higher costs or limiting availability of auto vehicles, the new car market shows a huge drive towards automatics. In fact, the significant rise in auto-only tests mirrors the rapidly diminishing availability of new cars with manual transmissions in recent years. In a similar study of the UK car market conducted by CarGurus, it found that the choice of new models with manual gearboxes had shrunk by 57 per cent compared to 2015. It said, at the rate of decline currently see, the manual gearbox will be 'lost forever' in new motors by 2037. The demise of the gear stick will gather pace more dramatically from 2030, when only hybrid and electric cars can be sold in Britain. Every hybrid and EV available today comes with an automatic transmission, meaning the art of changing gear will be extinct in new cars from the end of the decade. That said, some brands are using 'simulated' gearboxes, which are automatic systems tweaked to feel like a manual to provide an increased level of involvement for the driver. Paul Barker, editor at Auto Express, said the sector is seeing a 'seismic shift in gearbox preference'. 'With EVs now exclusively automatic and more new drivers opting for auto-only licences, automatics are no longer the compromise choice – they're fast becoming the default,' he said. While manuals are far more involving, Barker says that autos are becoming more appealing beyond their convenience. Semi-automatic system's including VW's DSG, Porsche's PDK and BMW's DCT offer 'fast shifts, better fuel economy, and a sportier drive that appeals to both everyday users and enthusiasts,' he said. 'And the latest conventional automatics and CVTs deliver smooth, seamless performance – perfect for urban traffic and long-distance cruising alike. 'In many cases, they now outperform their manual counterparts.' CarGurus' previous market analysis looked only at the existing availability of manual models from the 31 best-selling manufacturers in Britain. It found that just 82 or the 278 models in showrooms came with a gear stick. The analysis revealed that seven brands have already stopped selling new motors with manual transmissions. Land Rover and Mini are now entirely auto only - both of them losing their last manual gearbox option in the last 12 months. Other makers that also don't have manuals includes Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo - as well as EV-only makes, Polestar and Tesla. The number of new models per brand with manual gearboxes Audi: 4 - A1, A3, Q2, Q3 BMW: 3 - 1 Series, 2 Series (Gran Coupe), M2 Citroen: 6 - Berlingo, C3, C3 Aircross, C4, C4 X, C5 Aircross Cupra: 2 - Formentor, Leon Dacia: 5 (all) - Duster, Jogger, Sandero Stepway, Sandero, Bigster Fiat: 2 - 500, 500C Ford: 6 - Focus, Kuga, Mustang, Puma, Ranger, Tourneo Honda: 1 - Civic TYPE R Hyundai: 5 - Bayon, i10, i20, Kona, Tuscon Jaguar*: 0 Jeep: 1 - Avenger (hybrid) Kia: 4 - Ceed, Picanto, Sportage, Xceed Land Rover: 0 Lexus: 0 Mazda: 5 - CX-30, CX-5, Mazda2, Mazda3, MX-5 Mercedes-Benz: 0 MG: 3 - MG3, HS, ZS Mini: 0 Nissan: 2 - Juke, Qashqai Peugeot: 2 - 2008, 208 Polestar: 0 Porsche: 3 - 911, Boxster, Cayman Renault: 2 - Clio, Captur Seat: 4 - Arona, Ibiza, Leon, Ateca Skoda: 5 - Fabia, Kamiq, Karoq, Octavia, Scala Suzuki: 4 - Ignis, S-Cross, Swift, Vitara Tesla: 0 Toyota: 3 - Aygo X, GR Yaris, Hilux Vauxhall: 3 - Astra, Corsa, Mokka Volkswagen: 7 - Golf, Polo, Taigo, T-Cross, T-Roc, Touran, Transporter Volvo: 0 TOTAL: 82 Source: CarGurus *Jaguar current sells no new cars but had no manual gearbox models in 2024 and will be all-electric in 2026, meaning only automatic transmissions Changing gear in a new car will be almost obsolete from the start of the next decade when only hybrid and electric vehicles are allowed to be sold in showrooms. All currently come with auto gearboxes Manual gearbox defunct in new cars from 2030 - can it be saved? From 2030, only conventional hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric cars will be available from new in dealerships in Britain. Currently, not a single model across these three fuel types have a manual gearbox. This is because an electric drivetrain with instant torque simply requires a single gear. However, some brands are dabbling with systems that make an automatic feel more like a manual. Hyundai's Ioniq 5 N hot SUV (costing from £65,000) already has a 'simulated' manual gearbox using paddleshifts behind the wheel. Despite having a single-speed gearbox, the N e-shift system replicates the sensation and engine sound of a combustion engine. It even has a rev counter redlined to 8,000rpm - once you hit this in a gear, it will accelerate no more, as with a conventional manual transmission. Change down the gears and it will simulate the blipping of the throttle. It's a clever feature design to make EVs more engaging, with Toyota also developing its own simulated manual gearbox. This has already been fed into the Japanese manufacturer's luxury brand, Lexus, with a simulated manual gearbox called 'Interactive Manual Drive' available in the new RZ SUV. When the driver uses the fake gear stick and clutch to select first, the system will allow for lots of torque but have a low limited top speed in that gear. In sixth, there will be less torque available but will not have a limit on the electric motor speed That said, the mechanical transmission most licence holders have learned to drive in will soon start to disappear when new cars transition to electric power. Supercars and niche models built in low production volumes - think small sports car like Caterhams and Ariels - have also been given a stay of execution from the ban on new petrol and diesel models at the end of the decade. It means only the super-rich and petrol head enthusiasts will theoretically still be able to buy manual cars after 2030. However, by 2035 these are also likely to be forced to go electric, almost certainly rendering the gear shift extinct.
