Paddle shifters in some form or fashion are making their way into many newer car models. For a technology that began in F1, why is it now making its way into tiny Fiats?

For the most part, manual transmissions are dead. Their death has been caused by highly efficient automatic transmissions and the implementation of paddle shifters. Ferrari introduced paddle shifters in 1990 in their F1 racecars, and every racing team soon followed.

Paddle shifters allowed the racers to focus more on driving rather than spending time shifting. In the frame of racing, paddle shifting can shave off seconds to a car’s lap time when compared to manual. It was a no-brainer in the racing fields to make the shift. Now, most automobile manufacturers seem to be leaning this way as well.

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