Porsche Making 7-Speed Manual For 911?

This is amazing if it’s true.

Car & Driver is reporting that Porsche is busy working away at a 7-speed manual transmission to compliment the 7-speed automatic for the iconic 911. They apparently were able to extract this info with the reasoning that an extra gear would help out in the fuel efficiency department.

This would be the first 7-speed manual ever produced from Porsche for the 911. There may be a premium for it, which I’d gladly pay.

Sounds like Porsche has been paying attention to Car & Driver’s “save the manuals” campaign.

[Car & Driver]

Six Speed Manual Only for BMW 1-Series M!

Amazing!

BMW has just announced that there will be no automatic transmission option on the 1-series M! That is how you know BMW is serious about this being a true performance car. On top of that, they finally put the horsepower rumours to rest. The 1-series M will come with 340 horsepower from a 3.0 inline six. No torque numbers are released yet, but expect them to be in the 300 range as well. Drool.

And if all that weren’t enough, it will also have a chasis, braking system and rear differential identical to the M3. BMW claims the 1-series M is faster than the M3 around the Nordschleife track!

BMW has released the image above as well, which is less exciting since it’s still all swirly camo’d out. Expect an official reveal in December.

I am seriously in love. I seriously need this car. And I will seriously sell my soul to own it. Not really. But maybe. Probably.

[Top Speed]

We’re Making Headway!

If you didn’t already know, Car Driven has joined Car & Driver’s campaign to save the manuals! Well, the campaign has been getting some buzz with over 7,400 people joining the facebook page, but it’s also generating some media coverage right here in Canada. Check it out above.

As Car & Driver pointed out, someone go to that Honda dealership and buy a manual! The Fit, Civic, Accord, Element and CR-Z can all be had with a manual transmission, fools!

Click here to join the Save the Manuals campaign!

[Car & Driver via Facebook]