Ferrari, BMW, Pagani and other brands have presented new sports cars with manual transmission in the last year, a commitment to traditional driving in the premium segment.
The manual transmission, far from disappearing, is experiencing a resurgence in the luxury sports car segment. In the past year, at least five major brands have launched models with gear sticks, a decision celebrated by lovers of more traditional driving. Ferrari, BMW, Pagani, Hennessey and Nissan lead this trend.
In a market where automatic transmission dominates, especially in luxury, these brands are betting on regaining the analogue feel. BMW has announced the M3 CS Handschalter, a limited edition of 40 units that has been in production since this June and will be sold exclusively in Canada. Its price is 132,500 Canadian dollars, around 82,500 euros, and it features a 6-speed manual transmission with rear-wheel drive.
Meanwhile, Ferrari has unveiled the 12Cilindri Manuale, a limited edition of 1,499 units with an estimated price of 600,000 euros. However, its gearbox is not strictly manual: a software called Manuale By-Wire simulates the sensations of a manual shift with a stick and clutch pedal, combining the technology of the 8-speed DCT gearbox with redesigned components.
Pagani showcased the Huayra 70 Derecho at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July 2026, the second of three examples that its Grandi Complicazioni division will create to celebrate Horacio Pagani's 70th birthday. This sports car combines a V12 engine with a gated shifter and develops 852 hp. Its price will be around 3 million euros.
Hennessey Special Vehicles, based in Texas, has created the Venom F5-M Roadster, also presented at Goodwood. With 2,031 hp, it defines itself as the most powerful manual hypercar in the world. Only 12 units will be produced, each with unique specifications, and its starting price is 2.65 million dollars. The first example has been customised for an English client.
Nissan has also launched a manual version of its iconic Z for the US market, priced at around 45,000 dollars. This model, dating back to the 1960s as Datsun, adds to the list of sports cars that keep the gear stick alive.
Other recent examples include the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 and the Dallara Stradale, unveiled in 2018 with 395 hp and a starting price of 200,000 euros, limited to 600 units. The trend, which seemed marginal, is consolidating as a growing niche for collectors.
For Spanish enthusiasts, the arrival of these models in the national market will depend on the decisions of each brand. Meanwhile, the offering of high-end manual sports cars is growing in the international landscape, providing an alternative for those who value the mechanical connection that only a manual transmission can provide.
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