This thread makes me sad.

 

The trend of Lambo, Ferrari, et al to electronic slushboxes has nothing to do with "the way of the future" or any such notion of shift speed or performance numbers. It has to do with money, and absolutely nothing else.

First, as with electronic throttles, it is much easier to build in protection profiles into ECU software when said ECU has complete authority over the transmission. It's much easier to deny warranty claims, and hence reduce losses, when you can tell a customer they're SOL for a $5k clutch or $40k gearbox because they dared to have the audacity to launch the thing a few dozen times. (It is also quite a lot cheaper to build a gearbox that might survive a few launches on a good day in the rain, versus one you can beat the crap out of endlessly)

Second, it is somewhat cheaper to produce a single transmission option. This was less of a reality until recently, where Lambo and Ferrari were using an electronically actuated manual transmission (same gearbox, different parts to control it).

The "trend" to flappy paddles was entirely manufactured by both Lambo and Ferrari. Both stopped giving half a damn about building cars for enthusiasts and drivers in the early 2000s. Since then, every model release has been specifically designed to market cars to people who can not drive well, under the guise of providing racing technology. This is of course a farce to anyone who has ever driven a real Ferrari race car that has a sequential gearbox that is louder than a 747 and a man pedal, but the glitterati who hang out at Long Island watch stores and Beverly Hills coffee shops, of course, have not got the first clue.

Why? Quite simply, those of us who have spent the time and money to actually learn to drive a car are unimportant to Ferrari and Lambo. They don't need us to sell the volume of cars they produce, and generally speaking would rather sell a car to a clueless idiot who is going to do 62 mph in the fast lane with a latte between their legs than someone who is going to hang the tail out in the twisties and wonder why the default traction control setting isn't "off".

Porche, BMW and some smaller niche marques are a different kettle of fish. They have to keep the enthusiast base happy to sell high-margin enthusiast cars, as well as maintain platforms for sports car racing (which Ferrari and Lambo couldn't give half a crap about). Hence, they tend to listen to their hardcore multiple-car-buying customers, rather than simply dismiss them.

Suits me fine, as I'd rather drive a 1969 Lotus Elan for pure driving enjoyment than anything Ferrari or Lambo have made in a decade.

 

^ i love this guy

 

Now I'll have to fantasize driving my SL with e-gear! Crap

 

Porsche and Aston Martin are still making manuals....for now!

 

I saw an LP550-2 Balboni Edition in Paris the day before, and it had the E Gear transmission. I thought all Balboni Editions were made with manual transmissions?

 

Nope loads with E-gear.

 

Here a manual an LP550-2 Balboni Edition.