Every New Car You Can Still Buy With A Manual Transmission

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Every New Car You Can Still Buy With A Manual Transmission

From affordable hot hatches to million-dollar hypercars, these are the last holdouts keeping the three-pedal driving experience alive

by Khris Bharath – July 26, 2026

The auto industry has spent the better part of the last decade reinventing itself, and little of that transformation favors the traditionalist. Engine downsizing has replaced naturally aspirated V8s with turbocharged four-cylinders across entire model ranges, while six-cylinder engines have steadily disappeared from mainstream lineups.

Hybrids have become the default choice for many manufacturers, electric vehicles continue to claim a growing share of new car sales, and SUVs now occupy showroom space once reserved for sedans, coupes, and sports cars. Today, legacy automakers face real competitive pressure both at home and from international players.

For enthusiasts, however, no single trend has been more significant than the slow disappearance of the manual transmission. As manufacturers pursue stricter emissions regulations, improved fuel economy, electrification, and ever quicker acceleration figures, the traditional three-pedal gearbox has become an increasingly rare sight in new car showrooms.

Oddly enough, the manual transmission has found a second life as a practical selling point. Security researchers and insurers alike have pointed out that a clutch pedal functions as an accidental anti-theft device in the era of keyless relay attacks and increasingly sophisticated vehicle theft, simply because many modern thieves never learned to drive one.

Also, recent auction results point to an entirely different trend. Manual-equipped cars, particularly those fitted with traditional gated shifters, have become some of the most desirable configurations on the collector market, frequently commanding significant premiums over their automated counterparts.

Part of that demand traces back to demographics. A younger wave of aspirational buyers and collectors, who grew up with these cars as bedroom wall posters and are now financially established enough to own them. For many, manual cars represent the purest expression of the driving experience, offering a level of engagement that even the quickest dual-clutch transmission cannot replicate.

Having said that, while the pool of production cars still offered with a stick and three pedals has diminished year over year, we looked hard and wide to find out exactly what remains available. What we found surprised us. Over 20 cars with everything from sub-$40,000 sports cars all the way to seven-figure supercars and hypercars still pack a genuine manual transmission, brand new, in 2026. That number is even higher when you consider the growing number of restomod creations.

1. Mazda MX-5 Miata

Starting MSRP: $30,430 | 2.0L Naturally Aspirated I-4, 6-Speed MT, RWD

View All Mazda MX-5 Miatas for Sale

2. Honda Civic Si

Starting MSRP: $31,495 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, Limited-Slip Differential

View All Honda Civics for Sale

3. Toyota GR86

Starting MSRP: $31,400 | 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

View All Toyota GR86s for Sale

4. Subaru WRX

Starting MSRP: $32,495 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, Limited-Slip Differential

View All Subaru WRXs for Sale

5. Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Starting MSRP: $33,745 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 228 HP, 6-Speed MT Or 7-Speed DSG

View All Volkswagen Jettas for Sale

6. Subaru BRZ

Starting MSRP: $35,860 | 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

View All Subaru BRZs for Sale

7. Jeep Wrangler

Starting MSRP: $36,035 | 3.6L Naturally Aspirated Pentastar V6, 6-Speed MT On V6 Trims Only, 4WD

View All Jeep Wranglers for Sale

8. Toyota Tacoma

Starting MSRP: $37,305 | 2.4L Turbo I-Force I-4, 6-Speed iMT On SR, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road Trims, 4x4

View All Lots on duPont REGISTRY Live

9. Acura Integra / Integra Type S

Starting MSRP: $39,200 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT, Type S $53,900 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 320 HP, 6-Speed MT Only

View All Toyota Tacomas for Sale

10. Ford Bronco

Starting MSRP: $40,795 (Manual-Eligible Trims) | 2.3L Turbo I-4, 7-Speed MT On Base, Big Bend, Badlands, and Heritage Trims, 4WD

View All Ford Broncos for Sale

11. Toyota GR Corolla

Starting MSRP: $41,115 | 1.6L Turbo I3, 300 HP, 6-Speed MT Standard, AWD

View All Toyota GR Corollas for Sale

12. Nissan Z

Starting MSRP: $44,480 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6, 400 HP, 6-Speed MT On Sport and Performance Trims Only, RWD

View All Nissan Zs for Sale

13. Honda Civic Type R

Starting MSRP: $47,395 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 315 HP, 6-Speed MT Only, FWD

14. Ford Mustang GT / Dark Horse

Starting MSRP: $47,795(GT) to $64,080 (Dark Horse) | 5.0L Naturally Aspirated Coyote V8, 6-Speed Tremec MT Optional On Both Trims, RWD

View All Ford Mustangs for Sale

16. Toyota GR Supra

Starting MSRP: $58,300 | 3.0L Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Inline-Six Only, RWD

View All Toyota GR Supras for Sale

16. Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

Starting MSRP: $65,395 | 3.6L Twin-Turbo V6, 472 HP, 445 Lb-Ft, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

View All Cadillac CT4-Vs for Sale

17. BMW M2

Starting MSRP: $69,000 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT Across The Lineup Including M2 CS, RWD

View All BMW M2s for Sale

18. BMW M3

Starting MSRP: $80,650 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Base M3 Only, RWD

View All BMW M3s for Sale

19. BMW M4

Starting MSRP: $82,200 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Base M4 Only, RWD

View All BMW M4s for Sale

20. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Starting MSRP: $100,695 | 6.2L Supercharged V8, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

View All Cadillac CT5-Vs for Sale

21. Lotus Emira V6

Starting MSRP: $112,900 | Supercharged 3.5L V6, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD, Mid-Engine

View All Lotus Emiras for Sale

22. Porsche 911 Carrera T / GT3

Starting MSRP: $148,000 (Carrera T) to $235,800 (GT3) | 7-Speed MT on Carrera T and GT3 only, RWD

View All Porsche 911s for Sale

23. Zagato Capricorn 01

Starting MSRP: $2.1m| Supercharged 5.2L Ford-Based V8, 900 HP, 5-Speed Dogleg MT, RWD

24. Giamaro Katla

Starting MSRP: $2.1m | 7.0L Quad-Turbo V12, 2,127 HP, 1,481 Lb-Ft, 7-Speed MT, RWD

25. Garagisti & Co. GP1

Starting MSRP: $3.1m | 6.6L Naturally Aspirated Italtecnica V12, 800 HP, 516 Lb-Ft, 6-Speed MT, RWD

Khris Bharath

Every New Car You Can Still Buy With A Manual Transmission

1. Mazda MX-5 Miata

Starting MSRP: $30,430 | 2.0L Naturally Aspirated I-4, 6-Speed MT, RWD

2. Honda Civic Si

Starting MSRP: $31,495 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, Limited-Slip Differential

3. Toyota GR86

Starting MSRP: $31,400 | 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

4. Subaru WRX

Starting MSRP: $32,495 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, Limited-Slip Differential

5. Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Starting MSRP: $33,745 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 228 HP, 6-Speed MT Or 7-Speed DSG

6. Subaru BRZ

Starting MSRP: $35,860 | 2.4L Naturally Aspirated Boxer-4, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

7. Jeep Wrangler

Starting MSRP: $36,035 | 3.6L Naturally Aspirated Pentastar V6, 6-Speed MT On V6 Trims Only, 4WD

8. Toyota Tacoma

Starting MSRP: $37,305 | 2.4L Turbo I-Force I-4, 6-Speed iMT On SR, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road Trims, 4x4

9. Acura Integra / Integra Type S

Starting MSRP: $39,200 | 1.5L Turbo I-4, 6-Speed MT, Type S $53,900 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 320 HP, 6-Speed MT Only

10. Ford Bronco

Starting MSRP: $40,795 (Manual-Eligible Trims) | 2.3L Turbo I-4, 7-Speed MT On Base, Big Bend, Badlands, and Heritage Trims, 4WD

11. Toyota GR Corolla

Starting MSRP: $41,115 | 1.6L Turbo I3, 300 HP, 6-Speed MT Standard, AWD

12. Nissan Z

Starting MSRP: $44,480 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6, 400 HP, 6-Speed MT On Sport and Performance Trims Only, RWD

13. Honda Civic Type R

Starting MSRP: $47,395 | 2.0L Turbo I-4, 315 HP, 6-Speed MT Only, FWD

14. Ford Mustang GT / Dark Horse

Starting MSRP: $47,795(GT) to $64,080 (Dark Horse) | 5.0L Naturally Aspirated Coyote V8, 6-Speed Tremec MT Optional On Both Trims, RWD

16. Toyota GR Supra

Starting MSRP: $58,300 | 3.0L Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Inline-Six Only, RWD

16. Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing

Starting MSRP: $65,395 | 3.6L Twin-Turbo V6, 472 HP, 445 Lb-Ft, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

17. BMW M2

Starting MSRP: $69,000 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT Across The Lineup Including M2 CS, RWD

18. BMW M3

Starting MSRP: $80,650 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Base M3 Only, RWD

19. BMW M4

Starting MSRP: $82,200 | 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6, 6-Speed MT On Base M4 Only, RWD

20. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Starting MSRP: $100,695 | 6.2L Supercharged V8, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD

21. Lotus Emira V6

Starting MSRP: $112,900 | Supercharged 3.5L V6, 6-Speed MT Standard, RWD, Mid-Engine

22. Porsche 911 Carrera T / GT3

Starting MSRP: $148,000 (Carrera T) to $235,800 (GT3) | 7-Speed MT on Carrera T and GT3 only, RWD

23. Zagato Capricorn 01

Starting MSRP: $2.1m| Supercharged 5.2L Ford-Based V8, 900 HP, 5-Speed Dogleg MT, RWD

24. Giamaro Katla

Starting MSRP: $2.1m | 7.0L Quad-Turbo V12, 2,127 HP, 1,481 Lb-Ft, 7-Speed MT, RWD

25. Garagisti & Co. GP1

Starting MSRP: $3.1m | 6.6L Naturally Aspirated Italtecnica V12, 800 HP, 516 Lb-Ft, 6-Speed MT, RWD

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