8 Manual Transmission Cars Going Away After 2026: The Last Stick Shifts You Can Still Buy
The manual gearbox is quietly slipping into automotive history. As the 2026 model year winds down, a handful of beloved three-pedal cars are being discontinued for good and once they're gone, most aren't coming back. Here are the manuals worth mourning, and the last ones you can still drive off the lot.
For decades, the so-called "standard transmission" was the default way to row your own gears. Today it's anything but standard. Automatics including lightning-quick dual-clutch units and frugal continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) now dominate showrooms. In many cases, a modern dual-clutch automatic will actually sprint to 100 km/h faster than the same car with a clutch pedal, while economy-focused CVTs sip less fuel than a traditional six-speed.
The writing has been on the wall for years. So as the 2026 calendar turns, the editorial team is filing a few automotive obituaries. Below are eight manual transmission cars going away after 2026 a roll call of enthusiast favorites that are giving up the three-pedal life for the final time.
⚡ Key Takeaways
- The Volkswagen Jetta GLI drops its no-charge manual after 2026, following the GTI and Golf R.
- The BMW M3/M4 manual bows out with a limited M3 CS Handschalter sendoff.
- The BMW Z4 and Toyota GR Supra both get manual "Final Edition" trims before production ends.
- The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the last V8-powered manual sports sedan in North America.
- Once these stick shifts are discontinued, most won't return making 2026 a "buy now or never" year.
Manual Cars Being Discontinued After 2026 — At a Glance
| Model | Transmission | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| VW Jetta GLI | 6-speed manual | Last affordable VW with a stick |
| BMW M3 / M4 | 6-speed manual | CS Handschalter farewell trim |
| BMW Z4 | 6-speed manual | Final Edition; production ending |
| Toyota GR Supra | 6-speed manual | MkV Final Edition swan song |
| Lotus Emira | 6-speed manual | Last manual, V6-powered Lotus |
| Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing | 6-speed manual | Last V8 manual sedan in N. America |
| Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing | 6-speed manual | Compact twin to the CT5-V |
1. Volkswagen Jetta GLI — The Reason This List Exists
More than any other car here, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is the reason this roundup exists. Its optional, no-cost six-speed manual heads to the parts bin next year, mirroring its sportier cousins the GTI and Golf R which both gave up their three-pedal setups a couple of years ago.
"Global demand continued to narrow to a point where the market can no longer sustain it," a Volkswagen spokesperson in the U.S. explained. "As much as it hurts, that reality meant making some tough choices." For budget-minded enthusiasts, the GLI was the last gateway into the affordable-stick-shift world and that door is closing.
2. BMW M3 & M4 Going Out With a Bang
While the engineers in Munich plan to carve the manual out of the storied M3 and M4 by 2027, the stick shift is at least exiting on a high note. Before the gasoline-powered sports sedan takes a year off to make room for its electric successor, enthusiasts can grab a special trim: the M3 CS Handschalter (German for "hand shifter").
It arrives this autumn with just 40 units allocated for Canada, packing a six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, and a suite of lightweight tricks. If the manual M3 has to go, this is a fitting farewell party.
3. BMW Z4 & Toyota GR Supra — The Twin Final Editions
Keyboard purists love pointing out that the Toyota GR Supra shares plenty of BMW Z4 DNA as if a little German engineering were an insult rather than a compliment. Either way, both are taking their final bow.
For 2026, each gets a Final Edition trim available with a manual transmission. The send-off isn't cheap: the Z4 Final Edition rings in at roughly $99,000, while the Supra MkV Final Edition lands just under $85,000. Production of both is winding down, marking the end of one of the more unlikely and likeable collaborations in modern sports cars.
Watch: The Last V8 Manual Sedan in Action
Before we reach the Cadillacs, here's a closer look at why enthusiasts are so emotional about the CT5-V Blackwing the last manual, V8-powered super sedan you can buy.
Video review of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the last manual V8 sports sedan on sale.
4. Lotus Emira — A Supercharged V6 Swan Song
A supercharged V6 sends 400 horsepower to the rear wheels, and a slick six-speed manual is on hand to help the Lotus Emira meet its great reward. Choosing the stick also unlocks a limited-slip differential and "compression mount technology" for ultra-precise shifts.
Yes, the footwell is famously snug some drivers grumble about cramped pedal placement but that's the price of "adding lightness," the Lotus mantra. One reviewer fell for the Emira's shifter within six feet of driving it, praising the hefty aluminum rods and exposed linkages as pure mechanical joy.
5. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing — The Last V8 Manual Sedan in North America
This is the big one. After the 2026 model year, both Cadillac sedans exit, leaving showrooms entirely free of manual transmissions. The mighty CT5-V Blackwing the last V8-powered, manually shifted sports sedan in North America is a genuine loss for enthusiasts everywhere.
Its 6.2L V8 wears a 1.7L supercharger to produce a thunderous 668 horsepower, all funneled to the rear wheels through a Tremec-branded stick shift. The base price sits at $111,599, with options like a $22,500 Precision Package available. Cadillac may eventually replace the CT5 with another internal-combustion sedan, but the odds of a manual returning are slim to none.
✅ Why Enthusiasts Love It
- 668-hp supercharged V8 soundtrack
- Rear-wheel drive + Tremec six-speed
- Genuine track capability
- A future modern classic
⚠️ The Catch
- Six-figure starting price
- Last of its kind — no manual successor
- Pricey option packages add up fast
- Thirsty supercharged V8
6. Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing — The Compact Companion
With both Cadillac four-doors leaving, three-pedal action disappears from the brand entirely. The smaller CT4-V Blackwing pairs a twin-turbocharged 3.6L six-cylinder good for a claimed 472 horsepower with a Tremec six-speed manual that, fittingly, has the same number of cogs as the engine has cylinders.
Magnetic Ride Control suspension keeps the handling composed, while titanium connecting rods balance the engine internals. It's a thoroughly sorted machine, and without add-ons like carbon-fibre packages or a sunroof, the 2026 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing with a manual starts at $72,899.
🔎 Editor's Insight: Why the Manual Is Disappearing
The manual's exit isn't about nostalgia losing to laziness — it's economics and engineering. Today's dual-clutch and torque-converter automatics shift faster, accelerate harder, and (with CVTs) sip less fuel. Take rates for manuals have collapsed to low single digits on most models, making each clutch pedal a money-loser to engineer, crash-test, and certify.
According to industry roundups, fewer than two dozen new vehicles still offer a manual in North America for 2026 — and that number keeps shrinking each year. The survivors are increasingly limited to driver-focused sports cars and rugged off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Subaru WRX, and Mazda3. If rowing your own gears matters to you, the time to buy is now.
What This Means for Driving Enthusiasts
The shift away from manuals is part of a much larger industry transformation. As automakers pour resources into electrification, even performance icons are trading clutch pedals for instant electric torque. You can explore that broader pivot in our coverage of the latest electric vehicle news and EV launches, track new model debuts in our latest car news section, and dig into hands-on impressions in our expert car reviews.
If efficiency is steering your next purchase rather than driving thrills, our guides to the newest hybrids and top SUVs are worth a look though, admittedly, none of them will let you heel-and-toe through a corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which manual transmission cars are going away after 2026?
The manuals being discontinued after the 2026 model year include the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, BMW M3/M4, BMW Z4, Toyota GR Supra, Lotus Emira, Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing. Several of these are offered in special "Final Edition" trims before production ends.
What is the last V8 manual sedan you can buy?
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the last V8-powered manual transmission sports sedan sold in North America. It pairs a 668-horsepower supercharged 6.2L V8 with a Tremec six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive, and production ends after the 2026 model year.
Why are automakers dropping manual transmissions?
Manual take rates have fallen to low single digits, while modern dual-clutch automatics shift faster and CVTs are more fuel-efficient. The cost of engineering, crash-testing, and certifying a manual no longer makes financial sense for most models, so automakers are phasing them out.
Will the BMW M3 still offer a manual transmission?
The gasoline BMW M3 and M4 lose the manual by 2027. As a sendoff, BMW is offering the limited M3 CS Handschalter with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive just 40 units are planned for Canada.
Is the Volkswagen Jetta GLI still available with a stick shift?
For 2026, the Volkswagen Jetta GLI is still offered with a no-charge six-speed manual, but that option goes away the following year. It was the last affordable Volkswagen with a clutch pedal after the GTI and Golf R dropped theirs.
How many new cars still offer a manual in 2026?
Fewer than two dozen new vehicles still offer a manual transmission in North America for the 2026 model year, mostly performance cars and off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Subaru WRX, and Mazda3 and that number shrinks every year.
The Bottom Line: 2026 Is the Manual's Last Stand
From the budget-friendly Volkswagen Jetta GLI to the ferocious Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, 2026 marks a turning point for the manual transmission. These cars represent the closing chapter of an era defined by mechanical engagement the satisfying clunk of a gear lever, the precise dance of clutch and throttle, the sense that the driver, not a computer, is in command.
Most of these stick shifts won't return once they're gone. So if you've ever dreamed of owning a manual sports car, sedan, or roadster, this may genuinely be your final, no-pressure window to do it. Drive one, save one, and keep the spirit of #SaveTheManuals alive.
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