This screenshot was taken yesterday while I was looking at the Ford website's coverage of the Detroit show. Look what comes after "A five-speed manual is standard...". Has anyone else seen this mentioned anywhere else?

 

New to me! Would be a welcome addition to many.

 

"...with a five speed automatic with manual-shift capability optional."

 

The Lincoln LS uses the same 5R55S trannie and it is available with "SST" Select Shift trannie.

It has 2 shift gates, left is P-R-N-D5-D4 - all auto shifting.
The right gate is + / -
+ to upshift, - to downshift.
Whatever gear you put it in, it stays there.
You can run it right up to fuel cut off in 1st, 2nd or 3rd gears if you want.

 

News to me. Although I know Tiger Racing has developed a paddle shift style transmission for the S-197 model. They told me they were working with Ford for future development.

 

Maybe it means your can shift through 1, 2, and 3 below drive.

 

I checked the 06 owners manual in the 2006 section. it doesn't say anything about manual shifting. Could it be a typo?

 

Yep. That's all it means. Been like that since day one. I've only used the function a few times, mainly to impress the neighorhood kids.

 

You can shift it through the gears, I have done it. :drive:
One more thing, it also states that the GT has 300 HP and 315 lbs of torque. It should say 320 lbs. Wonder who approved this one???

 

This is an option on the 06's now?....

You gotta be kidding me......

 

is that why the auto has 1-2-3 and D instead of L1-L2 and D
Can you shift through 1-2 & 3 ???
Won't this hurt the tranny over time if constantly done?

 

Yes.

 

I've read that it doesn't. There was a pretty extensive thread in this forum about manually shifting an auto. Great read. See if you can find it. Even professional driving teachers say it's cool.

 

My brother has the thumb paddles on his 05 BMW 740IL. He thught it was cool at first. But now, he never uses it.

 

Yup, its one of the most WORTHLESS features on a car. The reaction is slow and unituitive. The modern auto works better in D then anything the owner could do. It s one of those things you forget about in about 2 days after buying it. You either get the auto, the manual, or an SMG. "autoshifting' is stupid. Leaving it in 2nd or 3rd on an autocross is about all you'll ever need.