A significant downside for the survival of the guide transmission is the dwindling quantity of people that know the way to drive stick. Mini is attempting to do one thing about that.

The automaker is launching a devoted guide driving college on the BMW West Coast driving college, run by its mum or dad model at its Efficiency Middle in Thermal, California. The college give guide newbies or drivers searching for a refresh can follow the fundamentals, Mini defined in a press launch.

Considered one of two BMW Efficiency Facilities in the US (the opposite is in Greenville, South Carolina, close to BMW’s manufacturing unit in Greer), the California facility is located on the Thermal Membership non-public racetrack and sometimes gives extra performance-oriented courses to assist prospects get probably the most out of their M vehicles and, since 2016, Mini fashions.

Mini’s guide driving college focuses on extra fundamental abilities, comparable to discovering the friction level of the clutch pedal and training clean begins. After instruction, members might be despatched out on a timed course to see how a lot information they retained, Mini mentioned.

Mini lately has added again guide transmissions for some fashions after a brief hiatus. It had pulled the 6-speed guide from the choices checklist within the spring, citing provide chain points, and had promised to carry the guide again at a later date. In October Mini mentioned a manual-transmission choice could be again for the 2023 mannequin 12 months and might be ordered starting in November.

For now, the guide will solely be out there with the three-door Hardtop physique fashion, in Cooper, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works grades. Mini hasn’t mentioned including the guide to different fashions in its lineup. For now, the remainder of the lineup sticks with an 8-speed automated transmission that is additionally non-obligatory on three-door Hardtop fashions.