10 Sports Cars with Paddle Shifters

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 interior 800x533

While many enthusiasts would never think of buying a sports car without a manual transmission, times are changing. Paddle shifter-equipped high-performance automatics are the wave of the future. Some of today’s most potent sports cars are only available with automatics. Although dismissed by some as mere “flappy paddles,” a quality set of paddles keeps your hands on the wheel and provides rocket-fast gear changes. In compiling our list of 10 sports cars with paddle shifters, we strove to stay on the more affordable side of the street, while sticking with one car per manufacturer. If you’re looking for Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Bugattis, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

2016 Alfa Romeo 4C

From its extensive use of carbon fiber and mid-engine layout to its lack of a manual transmission, the Alfa Romeo 4C charts its own course. Wedge yourself into the cabin, wind up the tiny but potent 1742 cc turbo four and grab hold of the flat-bottom steering wheel and the column-mounted paddle shifters. 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque may not sound like much, until you consider the tiny rear-wheel-drive beast’s 2465-pound curb weight. 0-60 MPH flashes by in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 160 MPH. Paddle shifters take charge over the 6-speed TCT twin-clutch automatic.

Photo by FCA Media

2015 Mitsubishi Evolution MR

2015 marks the last year of production for Mitsubishi’s venerable AWD Evolution, a.k.a. the Evo (although the regular Lancer will soldier on for one more year). If you want an Evo with paddle shifters, you’ll need to opt for the Evo MR over the GSR or FE. The MR’s column-mounted magnesium paddle shifters are the best in the business at this price point. The Evo MR is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, mated to a dual-clutch 6-speed TC-SST transmission. The 4-banger cranks out 291 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque on 93 octane.

Photo by Mitsubishi Motors North America

2016 Nissan GT-R Nismo

They call the Nissan GT-R “Godzilla” for good reason. It is, quite simply, a fire-breathing monster. The range-topping 2016 GT-R Nismo’s twin-turbocharged V6 pumps out 600 horsepower to all four wheels through a dual-clutch 6-speed automatic. Top speed is factory-rated at 196 miles per hour. 0-60 MPH is less than 3 seconds. The GT-R’s paddle shifters are column-mounted. The steering wheel shown here is from the 45th Anniversary Gold Edition, which marks 45 years of GT-R production.

Photo by Nissan USA

2016 BMW M3

To the average Joe, the M3 looks like any other 3 Series BMW sedan. To those who know, the M is anything but. The rear-wheel-drive 2016 M3 has a factory rated top speed of 156 miles per hour, with an inline-6 that delivers 425 horsepower, courtesy of two TwinPower turbochargers. The 0-60 MPH time is rated at 3.9 seconds when equipped with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. That’s a couple of ticks faster than the manual. The M3’s paddle shifters are mounted on the steering wheel.

Photo by BMW

2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat

While purists might say the 2016 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is a muscle car, not a sports car, you can’t argue with 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. With a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V8 lurking beneath the hood, there’s never been a car more aptly named. The Charger Hellcat is exclusively equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission (developed by ZF) and a splendid set of paddle shifters, along with three driving modes: Street, Sport, and Track. A manual transmission is not available. Hit the loud pedal and hang on.

Photo by Dodge

2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

The 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a track-ready beast with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 pumping out 640 horsepower. The monster motor can be mated to a 6-speed manual or a brand-spanking-new 10-speed automatic, which is said to produce lighting-fast shifts via the paddle shifters. The new Hellcat-hunting ZL1 goes like mad and sticks like glue, via a raft of technology lifted from the Corvette Z06. While performance data has not been released, we expect this one to crack the quarter-mile in less than 12 seconds.

Photo by General Motors

2016 Volkswagen Golf R

The all-wheel drive Volkswagen Golf R sits proudly at the top of the Golf range, with a potent turbocharged 2.0-liter engine pumping out a healthy 292 horsepower. Owners now have a choice of a 6-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic or manual transmission. Power is delivered via a 4MOTION permanent AWD system, with a Haldex center differential. There’s sad news for manual purists. The DSG-equipped Golf R covers the 0-60 MPH sprint in 4.5 seconds, a whopping eight-tenths faster than the manual. The paddle shifters are steering wheel mounted.

Photo by Volkswagen

2016 Subaru WRX

The all-wheel drive 2016 Subaru WRX might be the most controversial entry on this list, because its steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters control a Sport Lineartronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) rather than a dual-clutch or conventional automatic. The WRX’s CVT has 6- and 8-speed manual modes. The 2016 WRX is powered by a 268-horsepower twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer four. We scored a best 0-60 MPH time of 5.2 seconds in the manual-equipped 2015 WRX, with the traction control system set to Track mode.

Photo by Subaru

2016 Porsche 911 GT3

While there are no Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Bugattis on our list of 10 sports cars with paddle shifters, we couldn’t resist including the remarkable 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. With 500 horsepower on tap from the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-6, the Porsche covers the 0-60 sprint in just 3.1 seconds, with a top speed of 193 MPH. The 7-speed “Porsche Doppelkupplung” (PDK) automatic is controlled by steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Photo by Porsche

2016 Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe

After just one lap around the circuit at the Monticello Motor Club in the 550-horsepower supercharged V8-powered Jaguar F-TYPE R Coupe, with the active sport exhaust delivering a marvelous symphony of snap, crackle and pop, I was hooked for life.

The F-TYPE R is one of those rare cars that transforms space and time, nailing the 0-60 MPH sprint in 4 seconds, with a top speed of 186 MPH. Jaguar’s AWD system and 8-speed paddle shifter-equipped automatic transmission get it all to the road.

Photo by Jaguar Land Rover