Lambo kills the manual transmission - report

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept

Sesto Elemento decision coming soon

Lamborghini has reportedly decided the sun has set on manual transmissions.

Citing a low take rate of just one or two percent, research and development director Maurizio Reggiani indicated the Gallardo replacement - rumored to be called the Cabrera - will come exclusively with an automatic transmission. This is sad news, but it's not terribly surprising considering the Aventador is only available with a seven-speed single-clutch automated gearbox.

Besides the doom and gloom, Reggiani revealed Lamborghini will soon announce plans on whether or not they will build the Sesto Elemento concept. It is widely expected to be approved and would likely feature a 5.2-liter V10 engine with 570 PS (419 kW / 562 hp) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque.

Source: Motor Trend

Manual transmissions gone from future supercars?
(26 comments)

Add a Comment

Comments (23)

newest first oldest first

Subscribe to comments

CDspeed

Ok get rid of the manual transmission as standard, but for those who want one why not keep it as an option?

July 12, 2011 5:46 am

report abuse | reply

4 replies

kryst_PL

nope, selling manuals is not profitable enough to do all the R&D. Only point where I would totally miss a manual option are the muscle cars.

July 12, 2011 6:14 am

report abuse | reply

1 reply

CDspeed

I do realize they'd have to do the usual R&D, and it would be a costly option because of the R&D but it is a Lambo and it's not like they're cheap to begin with.

July 12, 2011 6:48 am

report abuse

kryst_PL

Cost of developing a gearbox for a 700PS car is way higher, then one for family hatchback. Ok, you earn more, a lot more, on selling a single car, but VW sell 2000 Golfs ONLY a day - and there are Skoda, Seat and Audi - all use the same gearboxes. Do you still think it is profitable to spend few milion euro to develop a gearbox for 100 cars?

July 12, 2011 9:57 am

report abuse

CDspeed

kyrst, I was only making a comment I really don't care what they do with their manual transmission.

July 12, 2011 1:16 pm

report abuse

Mister Stig

One word. COST! To make manual transmission an option, there is an awful lot of R & D, then it has to homiligated (sp) the total cost is not worthwhile.

July 12, 2011 6:05 am

report abuse | reply

3 replies

CDspeed

Yeah it would cost the company too much, after all they don't even take the time to make them fire proof.

July 12, 2011 6:52 am

report abuse | reply

useurbrain4once

no vehicle on this planet is fire proof! not even space vehicles and those cost billions to produce....

July 12, 2011 8:37 am

report abuse | reply

1 reply

CDspeed

I meant fire proof as in the sudden ability to catch fire which some Italian cars like Lamborghini seem to have. Du

July 12, 2011 9:54 am

report abuse

MTC

A Lambo without a metal gate manual is like sex without the pleasure

July 12, 2011 7:56 am

report abuse | reply

1 reply

DiViViO

Well Said!!! :-) Long Live the Stick Shift!! Helllooo Porsche 7 Speed Stick!!!

July 12, 2011 8:13 am

report abuse | reply

adz612

What is the point of having an Italian supercar without a manual transmission option? Just some faceless suits telling us what we want. I appreciate the cost factor, but has anyone asked the question what's the cost of replacing a semi auto transmission? The computers controlling it are in a pretty volatile environment, so when it goes wrong, expect the sh** to hit the fan. All in all, very sad news Lambo is going down this route as are other supercar makers. (well maybe not Porsche just yet, but somehow, I suspect it may happen.)

July 12, 2011 8:22 am

report abuse | reply

2 replies

adz612

and I'm sad to say as well, Lamborghini is becoming a strictly 'poser' brand, not one where enthusiasts actually wanna feel like a part of the car and embrace the lunacy.

July 12, 2011 8:25 am

report abuse | reply

kryst_PL

If you could afford a toy like this, cost of replacing half of the car would be insignificant for you.

July 12, 2011 9:59 am

report abuse | reply

Microice

What's everyone hooning about? All those with a manual Gallardo raise your hands! You can't fault Lambo for giving the people who buy their cars what they want. Ferrari doesn't have a manual but I don't see the poser comments...

July 12, 2011 9:00 am

report abuse | reply

2 replies

kryst_PL

Agree. We are rising riots against something, that we will never be able to buy either way...

July 12, 2011 10:00 am

report abuse | reply

scratchy996

@ Microice , that's because Ferrari is a poser car by default.

July 13, 2011 10:48 pm

report abuse | reply

b3dhm

let me get this straight , i asked the CEO of lamborghini back in nov why they didn't introduce a double clutch tran for the lp700 , and he said : we dont want to get rid of the raw feeling the single clutch tran provides , otherwise our loyal customers will miss this sensation . soon after that they ditch the manual ? what happened to maintaining the spirit and rawness of the lambo ? they might as well put a double clutch system and get on with it !

July 12, 2011 10:37 am

report abuse | reply

me109a

To me unless it has three petals it's not a sports car. People have forgotten how to drive so GTRs, Lambo, Ferarri, etc. are making cars that drive for you (point and shoot, the car does the rest). That to me is boring and without challange / passion. Soon all cars costing more than 90 k woll be fast vanilla. Guess I will have to build kit cars for the track.

July 12, 2011 10:53 am

report abuse | reply

Captain Scarlett

Like I keep on saying, manual gear boxes are just soooo 80's!

July 12, 2011 1:31 pm

report abuse | reply

1 reply

PAA

I m not sure I agree with you Captain. I drive the same car as manual and automatic and there's a different feeling, relaxed limousine like in the automatic, control and fun in the manual. Maybe sophisticated automatic gearboxes are good enough for fun drive as well. I think its time for the experts to answere this.

July 12, 2011 8:38 pm

report abuse | reply

isaacu

The comments of Paolo Mantelli of Oerlikon Graziano are considered. Over the years we have seen fewer and fewer people ordering the classical 'double H-GATE' shift pattern manual transmission for their supercars. But has it become an anachronism? Surely people are still willing to 'shift gears' themselves in the form of an automated manual 'tranny' while enjoying the sexual connotations often times alluded to of changing gears? Have we grown 'fat & lazy' and now want the car to do all the work? It will be interesting to see what the next few years crystallise.... Lets not allow the marketing dept dictate the 'Supercar specification'. isaacu

July 14, 2011 4:32 am

report abuse | reply

sensei

At the end of the day, we're the enthusiasts bitching on this board. We aren't the customers in supercar showrooms. What we say won't matter. The rich today can't drive. All they want is the projection of wealth in our new Gilded Age. Lamborghini has become a poseur brand for rich douchebags. The cars real people will drive will offer manuals for real drivers.

July 14, 2011 5:35 am

report abuse | reply