Report: Next Nissan Z NISMO To Be Automatic Only
A report is suggesting, based on order guides, that the next Nissan Z NISMO will be automatic transmission only. Say it ain't so.
We asked Nissan if this is true, and a PR rep told me we'd just have to "wait and see."
The car was teased yesterday, though we didn't yet have this information. We're hoping that this report is somehow wrong -- a car like the Z is almost always better with a manual, and I enjoyed testing a manual Z last year.
I guess we'll see if there's more to the story, but right now, from what we can see, the NISMO will be two-pedal only.
Boo.
[Image: Nissan via YouTube]
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Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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As long as it's not their crap CVT there's hope.
As long as a manual is still offered somewhere in the lineup.
I hope they make an even higher spec Tassos Edition.
Manuals used to have fuel savings, better acceleration, and the fun-factor to commend them, but with ECUs in control of automatic transmissions for optimal performance, fuel economy, and emissions, the manual shift will just go the way of the manual choke.
Drivers didn't miss that, or the Model-T spark adjustment either. Most drivers won't miss the manual shift, preferring to just get in, start the engine, and drive.
I told my grandson how I'd cold start an early 1960s carbureted engine: put the key in the ignition, floor the accelerator to set the automatic choke and lift your foot halfway, then turn the key until the engine starts, then take your foot off the accelerator and let the car drop to idle for a minute until the oil and coolant are flowing, then put it in gear. He said, "That's stupid. The car should do all that FOR you."
For various reasons, the methods of engagement of man and machine have been replaced by automation. Those of us who remember those old ways will have to get used to it. There's still fun to be had behind the wheel.