i know but like i said "many years ago" not this year and hence michael schumacher.

 

I should have linked the article I read on the Ferrari 458...

[QUOTE]Ferrari has broken with tradition and will not offer a manual transmission on its new 458 Italia supercar.

Ferrari’s new 458 Italia marks the end of an era for the Italian supercar maker, with Maranello’s most track-focused model only available with a self-shifting transmission.


The head of engine development at Ferrari, Vittorio Dini, says manual transmissions have had their day, with the latest twin-clutch automatic transmission offered in the 458 Italia providing quicker acceleration and better fuel economy than a manual.


“The manual gearbox has been a tradition for us but almost nobody buys one anymore,” he says.


He says the take-up of manual transmissions on the forerunner to the 458, the F430, was just five per cent, while demand for a self-shifting box on the recently released California convertible was even less.


“I don’t even think we have sold one yet. We offered it because some customers said they wanted it, but that hasn’t been the case,” he says.


Ferrari’s decision to offer an automatic gearbox on the softer California but not on the sportier 458 is a puzzling one, but Dini says the company’s new dual-clutch seven-speed auto makes the new car more hardcore than its predecessor.


He says the auto accelerates quicker than the manual because power isn’t interrupted by gear changes.


“With the auto, the car is actually accelerating during the gear changes, while on the manual, the power delivery is interrupted,” he says.


A dual-clutch transmission can accelerate faster than a manual because it can pre-select gears before they are engaged. While one clutch engages first gear, the other clutch has already engaged second gear, so that gear changes are instantaneous.


Ferrari’s twin-clutch auto claims are borne about by the acceleration figures for the new Italia, which is more than half a second quicker than the F430 was when it was launched in 2004. The 425kW Italia completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.4 secs compared with 4.0 secs for the F430. The new car reaches 200km/h in 10.4 secs on its way to a maximum speed of 325km/h. The rev limit has increased by 500rpm to a stratospheric 9000rpm.

 

For all those purists out there... Aren't you annoyed by the fuel injection and power steering too?

 

what's a purist?


If it adds fun like a new kind of tires I want it.

If it takes away fun like a computer that drives for you, I'll pass.

 

Its pretty sad when only 5% of Ferrari owners buy manual transmission cars.

 

The thing is you can do without things like that and not really notice a difference in driving. Having to play with the choke or pull harder on the steering wheel isn't quite the same as shiftin each gear manually.

Sometimes new technology isn't as fun as old technology.