Same as FWD junk ideas brought into this country.

Die CVT……Die.

That said, I hate automatics. Give me a 6 speed manual any day.

Manuals, for the longest time they have perfromed the best in economy applications (for cheap cost) and in sportscar/racing applications due to the driver having near total control of the engine’s speed and power output at any given point on a race track.

F-1 derived technologies going into newer automatic transmission designs, notably DSG like transmissions, and paddle-shifted clutchless manuals that can operate in auto modes are now capable of outdoing a human driver’s ability to select the best gear and rpm to achieve the fastest lap time possible with just a traditional manual.

Already, some of the best supercars in the world have done away with pedal and stick operated manual transmissions. This is good and it’s the future as long as a car intended for sports driving still allows the driver override control.

What I feel about traditional manuals is that they will stay in some niche markets because some folks will still prefer them. Yes, they may no longer be the best transmission for a racing application any longer but people may still want them on some models just because it makes the driving experience so much more interactive and fun than when driving an automatic, CVT, DSG or any variation on a transmission that does all the gearshifting for you.

I think this is especially true in low-powered sports vehicles where the sensation of doing your own shifting can distract you from the reality of how slow your car is in comparison to, say, a Lamborghini which no longer uses a manual transmission but has such voluminous power and handling at 500+ horsepower that the “no fun” factor of not having a manual transmission all but disappears for most drivers.

Personally, there are certain cars I would only want to drive with a manual transmission. That is my own preference and taste. That’s the point, though. Today it’s really just a matter of wanting the sensation of a gearshift lever in your palm or not. Some automatics are actually getting very good these days. Not all but some. In all but the most lackluster cars, they will get better.

Still, personally, I prefer a clutch pedal and gearshift or maybe paddle shifters (as long as they hold the gear I tell them to for as long as I tell them to).

I don’t see myself getting an automatic for a long time, however. I’ve never liked them in anything but a full size rear drive luxury sedan. Currently there are so many kinds of cars to choose from which do offer a 5-speed or 6-speed manual… why kill the fun?

I think this is a great development, though. Automatics have always been limited by having fewer gears than manuals and slow response to driver intention.

For those whos worrying about shifting the button too many times in short time for 8 speed manumatic….. don’t use it. Put it in drive and go.
Rarely drivers ever go into manumatic mode. Maybe…. 3% of the entire driving time of the lease or purchase term.

But the main advantage is mainly performance. A higher top gear means, usually a higher top speed, efficiency comes from having the engine work much less hard at cruise. Good for trips but not really much else unless you have a high revving engine. lower low gears means you don’t have to rev as much just to get going.

I know I’m missing a few points so anyone feel free to fill them in.

But For the most part, it’s the new “V12″. It’ll be a prestige feature, most people will not need 8 gears. Those that do will likely have thinly veiled race cars posing as streetcars. and in virtually all cases they will be Automatics because they are just faster (than any human) and easier to operate (no clutch to burn up unless you are that inept), but will have manual shift modes.

In the long run, simplicity will win out. But that is still decades away, I think.

But nothing beats a 6spd manual.

The E38 was PERFECT. Hopefully they will go back to the sleek styling. I’m sure they realized their mistakes