These are the Fastest New Cars You Can Buy with a Manual Transmission in 2023
For drivers looking to row their own gears with a new car in 2023, manual transmission vehicles are tough to come by. And while automatic gearboxes are now faster and more reliable, there is something satisfying about rifling through the gearbox by hand. Below are a few of the fastest new cars you can get with a manual in 2023, and they’re all future classics.
1. Porsche 911 GT3 RS – A surprising leader as the fastest new 2023 manual sports car
Yes, we know, it doesn’t have the most horsepower. We also know that it is a track-ready monster with trick aerodynamics and a sonorous 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated six-cylinder engine. That powerplant will chuck out 518 horsepower and 346 pound-feet of torque in this new manual sports car. And while the GT3 RS isn’t lighting up the spec sheet, it’s brains over braun for this German powerhouse.
An adjustable front splitter, rear wing, and diffuser allow the GT3 RS to slip effortlessly through the wind in a straight line. Those adjustments can then be adapted to circuit work, adding downforce to keep you planted in the corners. And just for fun, it has a DRS system. For those of you unfamiliar with Formula 1, I’ll explain.
The rear wing provides downforce at the expense of drag. With the GT3 RS, drivers can hit a button on the steering wheel and flatten out that rear wing, reducing drag for a higher top speed. Once the brakes are applied, the wing snaps back into position to maintain cornering grip until the next straight appears.
That said, the GT3 RS isn’t pokey when the lights turn green. It’ll launch from a standstill to 60 mph in just three seconds, on to a top track speed of 184 mph.
2. Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
It’s large, it’s luxurious, and it’s loud. It’s the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, and it came to play. Sporting a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine, the daddy Caddy throws down 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. That’ll take it from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, all while wrapping the pilot in plush seats and premium carbon fiber trim.
The Blackwing isn’t just good for shredding rear tires and tearing down drag strips. The suspension is responsive and compliant. The manual is satisfying in this new car, even on a long drive. Soft enough to soak up bumps but stiff enough to huck at an apex with unbelievable precision, the CT5-V Blackwing might just be the ultimate daily driver.
3. Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Take the engine from the Blackwing above and chuck it into a two-door muscle car that looks like it belongs on a NASCAR oval. That’s the formula that makes up the Camaro ZL1, and it is not here to play dress up.
Beneath that race-inspired skin is a true-blue V8 monster that takes this hunk of modern muscle to 60 mph in a shade below 3.5 seconds, according to CarThrottle. The suspension is well-sorted as well, keeping a sense of comfort while balancing the ferocious power headed to the rear wheels.
4. BMW M4
One thing has always been true about this generation of M4 models – you can’t see it from the inside. And behind the wheel of this BMW super coupe, all hangups regarding its looks go out the window.
A twin-turbo six-cylinder engine sits ahead of the cabin, shoving 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed stick and to the rear wheels. Firing to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds, the M4 proves its value. We’re just sad that the stick shift couldn’t make its way into the hotter Competition and CSL models.
A few of the fastest manual transmission new 2023 cars that deserve an honorable mention
Of course, these are just a handful of the fastest manual transmission cars you can still buy in 2023. Sister cars like the BMW M3 and Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing certainly deserve some attention as well. No matter what though, one thing is for sure: these cars are the poster children for the Save the Manuals movement.
