Porsche To Cut Manual Option from Next-Generation Panamera?

Porsche's moves that have antagonized brand purists are well-chronicled; the Cayenne and Panamera both have not been well-received by those enthusiasts.

To us, the Panamera is definitely more of a Porsche than the Cayenne is. Regardless, the market has taken eagerly to both models, powering Porsche to new sales and profit heights. People like their four-hour Porsches!

The car was born out of Porsche's realization that BMW and Mercedes-Benzes were parked next to their owners Cayennes in the driveway, leaving a huge untapped potential for the company.

With that type of clientele, you wouldn't expect manual transmissions to be the most popular option. And they aren't - the take rate is so low in fact that Car and Driver reports the next-generation car will be losing its manual-transmission option.

A lot of the buyer base wants to row their own gears in a car like the 911 (hence recent reports that car will be getting a seven-speed manual) but not so in a four-door grand touring sedan.

Still, do you think it makes sense for Porsche to cut the manual transmission option from the Panamera? Is it a key part of its character to offer the choice? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.