Porsche plans to continue offering manual transmissions for as long as laws permit and customers keep demanding them, although hybrid 911s remain a challenge.

Porsche is refusing to give up on the manual transmission.

While most automakers are reducing or abandoning three-pedal cars, Porsche says it intends to keep offering them for as long as regulations allow and customers continue to want them.

That commitment is already visible in the 2027 911 Carrera S, which will add a six-speed manual option after initially being offered only with the PDK automatic.

Strong Demand Is Keeping the Manual Alive

According to Timo Resch, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, demand for the manual 911 GT3 helped convince Porsche to bring a manual transmission to the Carrera S.

The 2027 Porsche 911 Carrera S will offer a six-speed manual transmission.

Resch says customer demand could keep the manual alive well into the next decade.

That opens the possibility that a future-generation 911 could still feature a traditional clutch pedal and manual gearshift.

For Porsche enthusiasts, that is important news as other performance brands move toward increasingly automated drivetrains.

A Hybrid Manual 911 Is Still a Problem

The biggest challenge is electrification.

The current 911 GTS and Turbo S use Porsche’s T-Hybrid system, and that setup is currently incompatible with a manual transmission.

Porsche’s current T-Hybrid 911 models use automatic transmissions, but the company has not completely ruled out a future hybrid manual.

Resch emphasized the word “currently”, leaving the door open for Porsche engineers to find a solution.

A hybrid 911 with a manual gearbox would be technically complicated, but Porsche is apparently not treating it as impossible.

That could become increasingly important as emissions regulations push the sports car further toward electrification.

Porsche Still Believes Drivers Want Three Pedals

Porsche’s position stands out in an industry where manual transmissions are becoming increasingly rare.

The company believes there is still a meaningful group of customers who value the involvement of choosing their own gears.

Porsche sees continued customer demand as one of the main reasons to preserve the manual gearbox.

Automakers often cite emissions rules, electrification, safety systems, supplier availability, and power limitations when explaining why manuals are disappearing.

Porsche, however, is willing to keep investing in the technology as long as the business case remains.

That means the future of the Porsche manual transmission will ultimately depend on two things: whether regulations continue to permit it and whether enough customers keep choosing it.

For now, Porsche has no intention of joining the manual transmission’s funeral procession.

Audi says the next A3 will focus on better materials, stronger tactile feedback, and a smarter balance between screens and physical controls.

Audi is preparing a new A3 that could bring back some of the interior quality and tactile feel that once defined the brand.

With the A1 and Q2 gone, the A3 is now Audi’s entry-level combustion-powered model. A new generation is already in development and is expected to receive more than just a styling update.

Audi Wants Better Interiors

Audi has acknowledged that some recent cabins have not matched the quality expected from the brand.

Now, the company wants to restore the focus on materials, tactile controls, and intuitive design.

Audi wants the next A3 to feel more premium through better materials and more intuitive controls.

Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr says these changes will reach even Audi’s more affordable models.

The company is taking inspiration from more expensive vehicles such as the Concept C and Nuvolari, which preview Audi’s future design direction.

The next A3 should therefore benefit from the same philosophy without becoming an expensive, low-volume model.

Less Screen, More Physical Controls

One of the biggest changes could be inside the cabin.

Modern Audi models have increasingly relied on large displays, but the company now wants to find a better balance between touchscreens and physical controls.

Audi is reconsidering how much of the A3’s interior should be dominated by screens.

The next A3 is still expected to use digital displays, but Audi wants to bring back more physical feedback and easier-to-use controls.

That could make the cabin feel more like the Audis that built the brand’s reputation for premium interiors.

The first model to use this new philosophy is expected to be the A4 E-Tron, arriving in 2028.

The Next A3 Should Keep Combustion Power

The next-generation A3 is expected to continue using the MQB platform, sharing its architecture with models such as the Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia.

The next Audi A3 is expected to retain combustion engines while adopting Audi’s new interior philosophy.

Audi has also backed away from its previous plan to go fully electric by 2032, leaving room for another combustion-powered A3 generation.

Diesel, however, appears increasingly unlikely to survive into the next generation as emissions rules tighten and hybrid gasoline powertrains become more capable.

The new next Audi A3 is therefore shaping up as an important model for Audi. Rather than simply adding bigger screens, the company wants to restore the material quality and intuitive controls that once made even its entry-level cars feel genuinely premium.

The 2027 INFINITI QX60 was designed around modern families, with eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and storage for large drinks and phones.

The 2027 INFINITI QX60 takes something as simple as a cupholder surprisingly seriously.

Engineers designed the three-row SUV to handle the wide variety of bottles, cups, and tumblers families carry today.

Eight Cupholders Across Three Rows

The QX60 offers eight cupholders and four bottle holders.

There are two in the front, two in the second row, and four in the third row.

The QX60 has eight cupholders and four bottle holders throughout the cabin.

INFINITI specifically designed them to accommodate larger containers, including 32-ounce reusable bottles and sports drinks.

Even the Third Row Gets Attention

Third-row passengers have four cupholders, despite having less surrounding storage than those up front.

Some can also hold a large smartphone, with a nearby USB-C port for charging.

Third-row cupholders can also double as smartphone holders.

The second row also gets large bottle holders in the doors, making it easier for passengers to keep drinks within reach.

Engineers Test More Than Just Fit

INFINITI’s engineers use dozens of different containers during development.

They test everything from small cans to large tumblers and coffee mugs with oversized handles.

The QX60 uses a “dog-bone” cupholder design to make room for large mug handles.

The company even fills containers with water and drives test vehicles at its Arizona proving grounds to check for spills.

A “dog-bone” design leaves more room for mug handles, while spring-loaded fingers help secure smaller bottles.

For the INFINITI QX60, the goal is simple: make sure every passenger has a practical place for a drink, whether they’re commuting or taking a long family road trip.