Latest news with #manualgearbox
Auto Express
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Manual gearbox on brink of extinction: Huge leap in automatic-car sales and driving tests
The manual gearbox could be on the verge of extinction, because new Auto Express-exclusive data shows the very few new cars on sale available with this kind of transmission. This mirrors continuously-falling sales across the UK and ultimately limits the number of drivers willing and able to change gears themselves. Advertisement - Article continues below Our findings show that, as of the time of writing, there are just 96 models being offered with a manual transmission, as opposed to 404 models that are automatic-only, with the former representing just over 19 per cent of the overall market. Compare this with just three years ago where almost a third of all models (including body style derivatives such as estates, coupes and performance variants) were available with a manual gearbox. With the number of new, manual cars available dwindling this has had a significant impact on sales. In 2024, the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said just 22 per cent of new cars left the forecourt with a manual transmission. This comes as part of an overall decline in the number of manual registrations over the last few years, with automatic sales having become the majority in 2020. So why is the manual gearbox going away? There are several reasons, but mainly it comes down to customer preferences and the rise of automatic-only EVs. Firstly, many drivers simply prefer driving an automatic car; while enthusiasts typically prefer the analogue and involving nature of changing gears themselves, taking this action out of the equation ultimately makes driving much more relaxing, which many drivers prefer. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Then there's electrified vehicles which, whether you're discussing hybrids or full-fat EVs, almost all operate as full automatics. As these begin to flood into the used market, the UK car park will slowly-but-surely say goodbye to the manual transmission, with this type of gearbox left exclusive to the cheapest or most driver-focused cars on sale. It's perhaps no surprise then that more and more young people are choosing to take an automatic driving test, rather than the full manual alternative. Figures from the AA Driving School found that one in five of its students (21 per cent) took and passed their practical test in an automatic car in 2024, up from just nine-and-a-half per cent five years prior. Such is the case, AA Driving School's managing director, Emma Bush, said: 'As more people become confident with the idea of their driving future being electric, the idea of needing to drive a manual vehicle will feel irrelevant to many. Indeed, we see many are already choosing to not only learn in an automatic, but to learn in an electric vehicle. 'We see this trend continuing and the need for manual tuition declining, although manual licences will remain important for some drivers as they will want the option to drive a larger variety of vehicles.' Manual or automatic, you can buy a vast range of new and used cars with our own Find a Car service... Find a car with the experts Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Labour hints at major luxury car tax U-turn to boost EV sales Is pressure from retailers and car makers finally cutting through with ministers? Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can't say we're surprised Mazda has killed off the electric MX-30, and we can't say we're surprised The MX-30 EV has been axed, but the Japanese brand will have another crack next year when it launches the all-new Mazda 6e saloon Car Deal of the Day: this Tesla Model 3 won't break the bank at £271 a month Car Deal of the Day: this Tesla Model 3 won't break the bank at £271 a month Tesla's Model 3 is a global best-seller – but it doesn't cost the earth to bag one. It's our Deal of the Day for 23 May
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
Ask the expert: Which £2,000 small car delivers the most driving pleasure?
Dear Alex, I drive a nice, safe Skoda Kamiq automatic. But I wish to buy a small car with a manual gearbox to drive to Switzerland and Scotland, to recreate driving memories from the 1980s in a Mini Metro and Citroën AX, when I was in my 20s. It obviously needs to be reliable, although outright performance is not important. What should I get for £2,000? – DH Dear DH, At this price, reliability is largely dictated by provenance, rather than brand. So it pays to buy chiefly on condition, history and length of MOT rather than aiming for a particular model. Having said that, the most reliable choice for that money would be a first-generation Toyota Yaris (1999-2005). I love these cars – cute, characterful and dependable. Your budget should get you a good one, although I'd recommend a 1.3-litre engine rather than a 1.0 for motorway driving. I found a 2003 T3 with only 54,000 miles and a year's MOT for £2,000. The Yaris should be enjoyable to drive, particularly compared with your Kamiq, but there are also more entertaining options within your budget. I'm thinking in particular of the original Ford Ka, renowned for its brilliant chassis, which was produced from 1996 to 2007. It will be less refined on a motorway than the Yaris, but more entertaining when you reach twisting roads. The Ka's mechanicals are hardy, but almost any example will have some sort of rust, so check it carefully. The 1.6-litre SportKa is immense fun; little else offers as many smiles for your cash. However, its rarity means you will probably have to settle for the standard 1.3, which is still a joy to drive. I found a 2005 Luxury, with leather seats, air conditioning, a long MOT, a full history and a very reasonable 77,000 miles, for £1,500. My final suggestion is a Suzuki Swift, the generation produced from 2004-10. Your budget probably won't quite get you into the marvellous 1.6-litre Sport, which would be ideal, but a standard Swift in 1.5-litre form gets close. They're great fun to drive and while they feel a little tinny, they're dependable. A 1.5 GLX with a full history, a year's MOT and 99,000 miles for £1,995 should be the ideal partner for your road trip.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Five Things You Should Know About The Mazda CX-30
Mazda CX-30 Mazda CX-30: Many cars have flaws and it's my job, alongside other journalists, to find and report them to you, the reader. I'm yet to test a car that has no negative attributes, whether that's limited space, questionable build quality, or so-so performance, but Mazda got almost everything right with the CX-30. However, here are five things you should know before parting with hard-earned cash. After receiving a line of overly fancy and technologically complicated cars to test last year, it was nice to reside in the Mazda CX-30's cabin. It's simple but functional. Likewise, there are no fidgety touchscreens, just lots of tactile switches, and the dashboard is soft to the touch. It's a fine place to be. It also has everything you need like a DAB radio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, sat-nav, a decent sound system and wireless phone charging. I drove a 140 PS 2.5-litre CX-30 through the Arctic Circle recently and it performed flawlessly. Road closures aside, the CX-30 easily tackled snow and ice without wheel slip thanks to the studded tires and returned between 35-40mpg. Mazda CX-30 Many cars are now only equipped with automatic gearboxes, but Mazda still offers the CX-30 with a manual gearbox, in the U.K., at least. American cars come with a six-speed automatic. Only higher-spec U.K. models come with four-wheel drive, while all U.S. cars have this as standard. But the front-wheel drive has plenty of grip and will pull you out of some tricky situations. The CX-30 is near-perfect, and this point is just a nitpick, but some of its rivals are more engaging to drive. The Mazda leans on the firmer side, although it's still comfortable; it thwacks instead of smashing over sharper road ruts. Mazda CX-30 If you like the odd B-road blast, then the CX-30 might disappoint. The Ford Puma has a sporty character and is a bit more fun to drive spiritedly. Front space is very generous for a car of this class. The driver's seat sits low and has plenty of adjustment, the steering wheel moves up, down, in, and out, and there's plenty of storage for hiding treats, wallets and phones. Rear space is not nearly as generous and most average-sized adults will find it cramped. Headroom, however, is a bit better. Mazda CX-30 Open the trunk, and you'll find a 430-liter cargo area, which extends to 1,406 liters with the seats folded flat. Mazda U.K. offers the CX-30 in five trims: Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Homura, Exclusive-Line and Takumi. U.S. buyers get S, S Select Sport, S Preferred, S Carbon Edition, S Premium, Carbon Turbo, Turbo Premium and Turbo Premium Plus. Similarly, U.K. buyers choose from two engine outputs: 140 and 186 PS, while America gets meatier 191 and 250 PS powerplants. The Mazda CX-30 is priced from $25,195 (£26,135)
Top Gear
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
The AM Rina is a lightweight Italian speedster with a 500bhp American V8
The AM Rina is a lightweight Italian speedster with a 500bhp American V8 Carbon-tubbed supercar arrives to celebrate the 1960s with a proper open-gate six-speed manual gearbox Skip 18 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 18 It's been a good week or so for the manual gearbox. Just a few days ago we discovered the Yugo was making a comeback as a small, affordable hatchback with a dinky petrol engine and a DIY gearbox. Exactly as a Yugo should be. Here's another new manual motor, although this one won't be quite as affordable, and its engine is a little more… substantial. What you're looking at is the Automobili Mignatta (or AM for short) Rina. And no, the name isn't supposed to be a nautical nod to Riva – we're told it was inspired by the founder of AM's grandmother, Caterina. Advertisement - Page continues below Quite the tribute, too. It's a carbon-tubbed speedster that'll be handbuilt in Piedmont and celebrates the Italian sportscars of the 1960s. Looks rather special too with its long bonnet, individual aeroscreens and protruding roll hoops. Oh, and that engine. Like lots of niche Italian supercars of the past, the Rina uses a proper naturally aspirated American V8. AM doesn't explicitly say this, but it's fairly obvious that it's the 5.0-litre Coyote engine from a Ford Mustang connected to a six-speed manual gearbox and a limited slip diff. The engine isn't just plugged straight into that Kevlar-reinforced carbon monocoque though, it's first sent to Italtecnica Engineering for tuning and there's a bespoke exhaust system to ensure it sounds mighty. We're told 'maximum power and torque values will be made official at a later date', but AM has said it's aiming for a 1,000kg kerbweight and that it'll have one bhp for every two kilos of mass. Yep, that sounds like a 500bhp V8 to us then. Rear-wheel drive, too, with carbon ceramic brakes optional and 19/20in wheels front and rear. Excellent. Just 30 of these will be built each year, and the 'interior' features no infotainment at all. Probably wise not to ask the driver to jab at a touchscreen while piloting a windscreenless muscle car. Instead, you get leather-clad seats bolted directly to the chassis, elliptical dials, lots of aluminium and even more exposed carbon. There's even a special spot inside the door panel to store your helmet. Advertisement - Page continues below 'Rina is proudly linked to Piedmont, the homeland of many milestones in the international automotive industry,' says AM founder Josè Mignatta. 'It is a sports car that celebrates Italian style and conveys the feeling of driving 'for real', perhaps on the hills of Monferrato or the Langhe, enjoying the evocative Piedmontese landscapes and the inebriating sound of its powerful V8 engine. "With Rina we aspire to make the art of making cars coincide with pure grace, creating a beauty characterised by noble simplicity and quiet grandeur.' Top Gear Newsletter Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Success Your Email*
