2023 Toyota GR Supras: Manual Transmission Dominates Sales

author: FutureCar Staff    

Stick shifts were once taken for granted by car enthusiasts, but now that they are becoming increasingly rare, their popularity is on the rise. Toyota has recently reported a remarkable number of manual builds for one of its sports cars, the 2023 GR Supra. According to a statement from the automaker to Road & Track, 47% of the 2023 GR Supras have been chosen with a clutch pedal. This is particularly surprising because the new Supra initially did not offer a manual transmission, and the company had expected only one in four Supra buyers to opt for it.

It is difficult to determine if this signifies a true shift in the market, but there are indications that the enthusiast market is thriving. With the rise of electrification and the immense popularity of larger, higher-riding vehicles, many enthusiasts are seizing the opportunity to buy new cars with manual transmissions while they still can. Even those who may not have considered a car with a clutch pedal before are realizing that they must act quickly.

Toyota's impressive figures are just one part of a larger story. As more automakers offer manual transmissions as a dedicated fun option, rather than just a cheaper alternative, the saga is set to continue. While crossovers are expected to dominate the market and electric vehicles will continue to gain popularity, buyers and a select few brands are not yet ready to let the manual transmission die out completely.

FutureCar Staff