Porsche Signals Manual Transmissions Will Stay in Its Sports Cars

911 GT3. (Photo: Porsche)

JAKARTA - For 2025, it's known that the manual transmission on the Porsche 911 will only be available on the Carrera T and GT3 models, as Porsche is removing the manual option for the Carrera S, 4S, and GTS due to low global demand.

However, there's good news for true sports car enthusiasts. Porsche has hinted that it may continue to offer more manual transmission options. This move comes after the 911 lineup bosses saw strong demand in key markets, particularly in California, United States.

However, this move by Porsche goes against the current trend of modern cars being dominated by automatic transmissions, making Porsche one of the manufacturers that remains steadfast in retaining the manual option on some 911 models.

However, Porsche is also increasingly introducing hybrid variants, such as the 911 GTS and Turbo, so the chances of owning a 911 with three pedals are actually diminishing.

As reported by Carscoops on Monday, September 22, Porsche 911 Chairman Michael Rösler admitted that maintaining a manual transmission is a major challenge, especially in the European market where demand is very low (only 2-3 percent for the Carrera line). However, across the Atlantic, the story is very different.

In the United States (US) and the UK, manual transmissions still have a strong following. Rösler revealed that 50 percent of US customers ordered a manual transmission for the previous 911 GTS model. This high figure was the reason behind Porsche's decision to offer the 911 Carrera T with a manual option.

"We're monitoring this closely, which is why we're making the Carrera T a manual—that was one of my initial decisions," Rösler said.

So, which model will get a manual transmission next? Rösler hinted that demand from Californian customers for a manual convertible could become a reality.

"California customers are asking for more (manual convertibles), so let's see what happens in the future," he added.

This speculation is reinforced by the sighting of several 911 Cabriolet prototypes being tested in California, with bodies similar to the hardtop version of the 911 GT3. This suggests that Porsche is at least exploring the possibility of introducing a manual transmission variant of the 911 GT3 Cabriolet. If this were to materialize, enthusiasts would be able to enjoy the powerful sound of the engine with the roof open while manually shifting gears.