There’s one 7-speed manual car left in America and it’s a powerhouse
- This is the only car in America that still features a 7-speed manual transmission
- And surprisingly it’s an off-road SUV
- Check out what other cars came with this kind of transmission
Published on Aug 05, 2024 at 2:25 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Aug 05, 2024 at 6:51 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Manual transmission cars are becoming a dying breed and along with it, we have seen the disappearance of 7-speed manual transmission vehicles.
Introduced back in 2012, the transmission was first seen on the 991 generation Porsche 911.
However, now only one vehicle in the US features a 7-speed manual system, and it’s an off-road SUV.
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Last 7-speed manual transmission car in America
The transmission offered a sporty driving experience with better fuel economy or greater low-speed off-road capability.
However, 12 years after its debut, the 2021 Ford Bronco is the only car in America with a 7-speed manual system.
Ford included a 7th crawler gear, commonly known as a ‘granny’ gear.
It is most suitable for rock crawling on off-road terrain, but functionally unusable in everyday, on-road driving.
This 7th gear can be accessed by moving the gear shifter to the left and down and pulling up on the locking ring.
Unfortunately, the off-road SUV only offers a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine.
However, it still produces 275 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque.
The Bronco can even beat out the Jeep Wrangler when it comes to slowest low-speed crawling.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been many 7-speed manual transmission cars as they were ditched for new manual setups or an automatic option.
With an estimated 97 percent of Americans driving automatic, it seems that hardly anyone even knows how to drive stick in the US.
Other 7-speed gearboxes lost to time
As we mentioned before, the 7-speed manual transmission was first introduced in the Porsche 911.
However, the 2025 lineup of the car won’t even feature a manual option, breaking a 60-year-old tradition.
Then there was also the C7 Corvette and the Aston Martin Vintage that featured the seven-speed manual transmission.
What’s more, a new hypercar brand called Niku is offering a bespoke 7-speed manual with its upcoming supercar.
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
