Manual gearbox availability drops to two dozen models for 2026

The 90% take-rate on the BRZ manual is the kind of number that should settle arguments, yet the cars disappearing this year — the 718, the Supra, the Z4 — were exactly the ones where a manual made the most sense. The shrinking list isn't purely a story of consumer indifference; it reflects manufacturer decisions made on global volume, electrification timelines, and emissions compliance rather than what the enthusiast segment actually wants. What the article makes clear is that the window is measurably closing: roughly a third of manual-available models have gone in five years. For anyone who cares about driving engagement, the practical implication is simple — the choice you defer today may not exist when you come back to make it.