📰 Auto News Report: Lamborghini ditching manual transmissions

[Bru]

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/08/lamborghini-ditching-manual-transmissions/

Lamborghini is apparently chomping at the bit to say arrivederci to the manual transmission. Motor Trend had a chance to speak with Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini's R&D director, and it appears that a manual gearbox doesn't fit into the automaker's plans for the future. The immediate future.

Per Reggiani, only one to two percent of the vehicles produced at the Sant'Agata factory come equipped with a row-your-own setup – a shockingly low percentage. Lamborghini's customers want fast cars, and the best way to ensure it delivers is by removing the human element from the gearchange equation.

A Gallardo replacement is expected next year, and Reggiani tells Motor Trend that it will be available only with an automated gearbox of some sort (the new Aventador makes use of an automated single-clutch seven-speed unit).

Has the manual transmission run its course, or is there still life left for those who hunt for the perfect heel-toe downshift? If the rumormill is correct, Porsche seems to think there is, but other automakers have been mum on development plans for three-pedal setups. What do you think? Mull it over and then sound off in Comments.

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[Bob Kazamakis]

Id say most people that buy Lamborghinis do so because they're fashionable and flashy. They don't seem like a driver's supercar anyways....

 

[bluzohh6]

Im glad you say that

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I'm glad you're back

 

[bluzohh6]

Who said anything about being back? I would have had to have gone somewhere to be back

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I've missed your beautiful face.

 

[Turk]

Stick lambos suck anyways. Not to mention I'd be afraid to money shift on an engine that probably cost 100k.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

It's Lamborghini that doesn't have a dead pedal spot at all right?

Other then the balboni edition they don't seem like a true performer but more like a status symbol. I dunno...other then the sound I never really cared for any of them.

 

[Prevent]

egear for the wing

 

[RICH17]

jereamy clarkson is pissed!

 

[Turk]

It's Lamborghini that doesn't have a dead pedal spot at all right?

Other then the balboni edition they don't seem like a true performer but more like a status symbol. I dunno...other then the sound I never really cared for any of them.

Lambos are slow for the price, but I still love everything about them. Let's face it, nobody should take a 500k car on a race track anyways.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Lambos are slow for the price, but I still love everything about them. Let's face it, nobody should take a 500k car on a race track anyways.

I guess a 500k street car.....but still why not? If you have means to take the loss of crashing it why shouldn't you?

 

[Turk]

Well yeah, if I was a billionaire, I'd buy 2 Superleggeras, one to beat the hell out of and one to just cruise.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

It's all relative.

I know a guy that ordered a race prepped gt3 RS and had it delivered to autobahn purely to drive around at the track.

 

[Shadow99]

Whats a Lamborghini?

 

[Prevent]

more than you can afford pal'

 

[Turk]

It's all relative.

I know a guy that ordered a race prepped gt3 RS and had it delivered to autobahn purely to drive around at the track.

A GT3 RS is a race car, meant to be driven on a race track and able to take the abuse of a race track. A lambo... not so much.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

A GT3 RS is a race car, meant to be driven on a race track and able to take the abuse of a race track. A lambo... not so much.

Well yes. Hence my "more fashionable" response above.

 

[Stink Star]

As time goes on and I get older, the more Ferrari appeals to me over Lamborghini

 

[THEHKP7M13]

more than you can afford pal'

LMFAO!

 

[THEHKP7M13]

more than you can afford pal'

As time goes on and I get older, the more Ferrari appeals to me over Lamborghini

The third pedal is dead at Ferrari too.

 

[bluzohh6]

lambos aren't typically $500k

 

[YoushallgoFo]

Rappers and Actors don't seem to me as people who would take a manual over an automated manual anyway, and if thats whos buying them then thats what exotic car makers will do. Ferrari uses it because they want to bring the racing tech to the streets so people feel like their 458 is a f1 racing car. Lamborghini has to stay competitive as well.

I think its BS tho, the GT2, ZR1, and ACR do just fine with manuals. Would they be even faster with an auto tho? maybe stick is on the way out...

 

[bluzohh6]

Stick is on the way out.