That 6-speed manual transmission is a true joy to run through the cogs. Its short throw shift lever snaps from interval to interval without a trace of slack, one fluid movement to the next. What's more the transmission's casing is magnesium, saving 3.2 kg (7.0 lb) over a comparable aluminum case. Its leather and aluminum shift knob is mechanical artwork, one of the sweetest to look at and most engaging to grab hold of anywhere. Likewise the Acura's light, but well modulated clutch works in unison with its drive-by-wire throttle, optimized for a quicker response and smoother acceleration, to induce aggressive acceleration, but it's necessary to keep it high in the rev range for the best results.

Amazingly I didn't notice much of a handicap when accelerating in a 5-speed automatic equipped model. Its Sequential SportShift mode just might be the best I've ever tested, so talented in fact that I might be tempted to opt for it if personal money was on the line. Hardly a flick of the wrist is necessary, while its gear ratios seem perfectly matched to the engine. Also, it doesn't shift up to the next gear when hitting the engine's 7,400 rpm redline, but rather brushes up against a relatively soft cutoff prompting an overly assertive driver to back off. A completely soft redline that wouldn't cut off at all, similar to Porsche's Tiptronic automatic, would improve it even further.