Manual-transmission fans can breathe a sigh of relief—Porsche isn’t ready to let the three-pedal 911 fade away. Right now, American buyers only have
Manual-transmission fans can breathe a sigh of relief—Porsche isn’t ready to let the three-pedal 911 fade away.
Right now, American buyers only have two manual 911 options: the entry-focused Carrera T and the track-bred GT3. But the brand is exploring ways to expand its manual lineup, even as demand outside the U.S. and U.K. stalls. The likeliest path forward? More special editions.
Michael Rösler, Porsche’s 911 program director, told Evo that the company is “thinking about all the possibilities to get the customers a manual.” He played a big role in launching the Carrera T after it became clear that most of the standard Carrera range would transition to dual-clutch only.
While just 2–3% of European Carrera buyers chose the manual, American enthusiasm remains strong—roughly half of U.S. Carrera GTS customers preferred the stick. Unfortunately, the new hybrid GTS powertrain isn’t compatible with a manual gearbox, meaning Porsche has to get creative for fans who still want to shift gears themselves.
For the Carrera T, Porsche adjusted the linkage to mimic the GT3’s tactile feel and eliminated the unnecessary seventh gear, creating a cleaner, more engaging driving experience. Still, the shrinking popularity of stick-shifts globally creates supply headaches, since suppliers need to commit to producing parts in meaningful numbers.
Rösler hinted that Porsche cut short the 991 generation’s production run, shelving unique versions like the Speedster until late in its cycle. He doesn’t want to repeat that misstep with the current 992, noting how well the Sport Classic, Dakar, and 911 S/T have been received.
Spy shots already suggest a potential GT3-based Speedster is under development, signaling Porsche is keen on keeping its retro-inspired specials alive—likely the best homes for a manual 911 in today’s market.
Rösler also touched on Porsche’s hybrid development, explaining how the decision to focus on a single-turbo GTS powertrain over twin-turbo engines was made for practical reasons. And in case you were wondering—yes, the man behind today’s most iconic sports car drives a humble Renaultsport Clio 200 on the side.
For Porsche, the takeaway is clear: while manual demand is dwindling worldwide, the stick-shift 911 still has a passionate following. And that’s enough reason to keep building them.
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