With growing despair, we are watching the exodus of the manual transmission from some of our favorite cars. Despite our best efforts, in the form of the “Save the manuals” campaign, the row-it-yourself gearbox has disappeared from a number of German premium cars (and from the Cadillac CTS-V as well). But there is happy news from elsewhere: Jaguar is betting strongly on the manual, and we just got confirmation from the brand’s North American CEO Joe Eberhardt: It will be offered on the upcoming XE sedan as well.
Jaguar is already offering the manual on several versions of the F-Type, where the customer take rate is at a solid 10-to-20 percent. “It is enough to be worth the investment, and we are happy with our decision,” Eberhardt tells us. And beyond just the numbers, he points out the benefits in image and performance credibility.
The manual transmission will be offered on the entry-level 2017 Jaguar XE 25t, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, we’re told. And while it won’t be available from the outset, it will come to market soon after the model line launches in mid-2016. Good. That’s yet another reason to put the XE on the enthusiasts’ radar—besides its very impressive performance in our first test of the car. And we hope other carmakers take note.
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