Honda has long been accepted among automakers and car enthusiasts as the best brand to deliver standard-quality manual shifters. Since its inception, the company has been making world-class manual shifters. Even going through the ages of evolution, Honda never changed the signature elements of its shifters, like the precise metal-on-metal feel, the short throw, the ease of use, and the accuracy. Let’s know what makes these shifters the best in class.

The Shifters

The legendary Honda S2000 featured good shifters but were less impressive than the other transmissions coming from the brand. The S2000 and the original S-Series are the only rear-drive front-engine cars the company has ever built. The majority of these cars are front-wheel drive and transverse-engine and have adopted longitudinal engines only on rare occasions. Yet with a gearbox and transverse engine, the shifters in these cars offer purely unfiltered connection to the transmission, reflecting the ones like in the DC2 Integra Type R, original NSX, and the latest Civic Type R. Even a basic manual Civic feels wonderful to shift. During the turn of the millennium, Honda started using shift cables instead of metal linkages in its new front-wheel drive, front-engine models. Retaining the great shift feel of NSX, these new regular car models followed similar pathways and delivered the same satisfactory results too.

The Reason

Honda puts a simple, non-technical answer to the reason behind the success of its manual shifters. Institutionally, the brand has proven to care about this particular stuff, putting a lot of work into all the transmission components of its cars. As the chief engineer of Civic Type R, Hideki Kakinuma, explains, shifters and shift feel have always been a prime focus at Honda.

The Response

According to Chris Weismann from the renowned racing-gearbox design firm Traction Products, over the years, Honda has done a top-notch job in everything related to shifting, from shift handles to the gearboxes. Further explaining, he added that even great shifting gearboxes often fail to deliver a good shifting feel due to poor linkage to the gearbox. Synchronizers are also particularly important to achieve a great shift feel. As per Weismann, Honda has focused on these parts of the equation, too, with great attention to detail, higher manufacturing standards than its peers, and years of dedicated continuous refinement. With a high standard of tolerance, all the correct fit between mating parts, and without any rough edges, Honda delivers excellent finished products with quality control in its shifters, that function way better than others.

Few names in the luxurious automotive industry carry as much gravitas as Maybach. The brand dates back to 1909, which makes it older than Bentley, and nearly as old as Rolls-Royce. Its sporadic production has only added to Maybach’s aura, which is currently part of the Daimler AG multinational automotive corporation.

The brand that is synonymous with opulence and sophisticated luxury is expected to reach another level with the launching of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 SUV and the all-new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

Maybach’s SUV Is Beyond Sumptuous

The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is the brand’s first-ever Sport Utility Vehicle. The automobile has a handsome-but-flashy exterior and an ultra-elegant interior, which leaves no question about the craftsmanship behind it. It features a twin-turbocharged V-8 engine with 558 horsepower that can get from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The motor is assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system which gives an extra shove right from the start. The vehicle offers a silky-smooth ride to its passengers because of second-to-none air suspension.

Unlike the standard Mercedes-Benz S 580 4Matic, the 2021 Maybach S-Class features wider rear doors and a seven-inch longer wheelbase that increases the comfort levels of the automobile. The executive chairs in the back are upholstered with the finest leather and feature a calf rest massage function and neck and shoulder heating.

New Hood, Traditional Grill, and Mesmerizing Paintwork

On the exterior, the S-Class is equipped with a unique hood with a chromed fin and the signature vertical chrome pinstriped Maybach radiator grill. The two-tone hand-applied paintwork adds to the vehicle’s appeal and gives it a chic appearance that will certainly turn countless heads.

Both cars reflect perfectly the spirit and values of Mercedes-Benz and Maybach, and are expected to be a huge success among automotive aficionados. Maybe 2021 is the year that will allow the brand to topple its competitors.