More Manual Transmissions Are on the Way for 2027, but Some Models Are Losing Them

The manual transmission keeps making a comeback despite predictions of its demise. Automakers are responding to enthusiast demand, with several new three-pedal models planned for 2027 and beyond.

Bugatti CEO Mate Rimac told Road & Track the company is "100 percent" interested in building another manual car, possibly pairing a real manual gearbox with its naturally aspirated V16. Nothing is confirmed for production yet.

McLaren has gone further with its new McL 6GT, a low-volume supercar expected in 2028. It features a mid-mounted V8, rear-wheel drive, hydraulic steering, and a six-speed manual. This would be McLaren's first manual road car since the F1 in 1992. Around 500 units are expected, with prices near $1.5 million.

Porsche is offering a North America-exclusive 911 Carrera S with an MT Package, bringing a six-speed stick to its 473-horsepower twin-turbo flat-six. The coupe starts at $169,100, and the Cabriolet at $183,350.

For more affordable options, Subaru confirmed three new manual-transmission cars will enter production by 2027. The announcement came at Japan's Super Taikyu endurance series, with a photo showing three covered cars. They appear to be a new WRX sedan, a BRZ-based sports car, and a five-door performance hatchback.

However, this was a Japan-market announcement, and Subaru hasn't confirmed which models will reach America.

Mazda indicated the next-generation MX-5 Miata will stay small, lightweight, naturally aspirated, and available with a manual. The current Miata has a 181-hp engine, a short-throw six-speed, rear-wheel drive, and a 2,366-pound curb weight.

The next Toyota Supra is expected to keep the manual, though Toyota hasn't officially confirmed its transmission lineup. The outgoing 382-hp GR Supra gained a six-speed after enthusiast pressure.

Not all manuals will survive. Volkswagen removed the manual from the Golf GTI and Golf R, and the 2027 Jetta GLI will lose it too, leaving VW with no manual models in America. The Supra is nearing end of production, and the BMW Z4 is already gone. Cadillac's CT5-V Blackwing faces an uncertain future as the current sedan winds down.

Manuals may never regain their old market share, and automatics will keep beating them in acceleration. But for enthusiasts, a manual is about making the driver part of the machine, not just speed. As long as demand lasts, the stick shift will keep showing up on more cars.