No More Manuals

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni (Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit)

Take a good virtual look at it, cuz this is the last Lamborghini you'll ever see with a manual stick. Motor Trend recently sat down with Lamborghini's R&D Director Maurizio Reggiani and he told them that the manual stick doesn't seem to fit the future of Lamborghini.

"Basically, we want our cars to be fast, and the best way to deliver this is to remove the human element from the gearchange equation." - Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini R&D Director

The Gallardo's replacement, the Cabrera, is expected next year and will only be available with a 6 or 7-speed E-Gear similarly used in the Aventador LP700-4. So, with Lamborghini officially out of the manual business, does this mean the end for the hairy-chested stick shift? Not yet, at least that's what Porsche thinks. 

Porsche's 7-Speed Manual Stick

This is their new 7-Speed manual stick which will be available in the new 2013 Porsche 911 (991). They still believe the stick is alive, but that's just them. BMW's new M5 F10 will have a 6-speed stick as an option, but they'd prefer if customers bought it with the new 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission. Whatever the case may be, it seems that science has overtaken raw power when it comes to gearshifts and speed.

Camaro Automation

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 (Courtesy of Camaro5.com)

A friend once said to me "Automatic transmissions are for tools", and, I hate to say it, but I agree with her. I am one for the Dual-Clutch transmission because it's faster, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than the manual stick, but let's be honest. Automatic transmissions are for the chickens who don't know how to drive a stick shift. So, if you are a real tool, you should be pleased to here that Chevy's most powerful Camaro to date, the ZL1 will be offering an automatic transmission, and here's a picture of the first one. Be warned though! The ZL1 with a manual stick will do 197 to 200 MPH, while the automatic will be stuck at a miserable 190 MPH. Not to mention the manual is less expensive than the automatic. But, whichever one you choose, you still get the King of Camaros. This kingship includes a 6.2-liter LSA Supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower, about as much as the CTS-V. It will do 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds (~ 3.9 seconds with the automatic) with the heart and soul of a true American Muscle. The ZL1 is slated for production start on New Year's Day next year.