The Mazdaspeed has a classy external, a forceful turbocharged cylinder engine and a transmission certain to strike fear into the hearts of many American drivers. You get a lot of car for your money with a Mazdaspeed, but no amount of checked option boxes or dealer haggling will get you an automatic transmission.

The Mazdaspeed comes with only a speed manual, making the car a strict shift for you proposition. This boost the model's sporty image - as proven in this recent New York Times review - but it can limit sales in the United States, where automatics are vastly more popular. Still, for fans of the stick, Mazda is taking a refreshing, and rare, approach.

Automatics have become so popular and in some cases so efficient, that some pretty sporty cars aren't even available in manual. The new Ferrari California can't be had in manual at the moment (though a stick is coming), and neither can those Mercedes monsters the CL 63 AMG and CL 65 AMG. BMW tried the no-stick approach with the American versions of the latest M5 and M6 coupe, but die-hard BMW fans quickly grabbed pitchforks and torches.

BMW duly changed course and both cars can now be had with a speed manual. "Only in the U.S. and Canada do these cars come with a manual," says Martin Birkmann, manager of product planning and product strategy at BMW North America.

Mr. Birkmann says the latest generation of automover and semi-automatic transmission has become "incredibly more competent," but recognizes the street cred that comes with a car equipped with a manual. "You always get that extra nod from the valet," says Mr. Birkmann, with a laugh. Contrary to the industry norm, where an automatic is an extra cost option, some buyers are willing to pay extra to shift for themselves. In the 2010 BMW 650i Coupe, a 6-speed manual is a $250 option over the automatic-equipped base car.

While Mazda doesn't even offer a stick option for the pricier versions of its Mazda, the company said it was trying to make a statement with the stick-only Mazdaspeed.

"I think it's important that Mazdaspeed stay true to its roots," says David Matthew, vehicle line manager for the Mazda. Of the roughly 100,000 Mazda sold annually in North America, Matthew says the Mazdaspeed averages about 5 percent of this total.

"We're not out to sell of a lot of Mazdaspeed ," he explained. Instead, the 263-horsepower hatchback is a vehicle intended to add excitement to the entire Mazda lineup. Balancing a low price (the Mazdaspeed starts at $23,945) and fun-to-drive factor plays a big part in Mazda's decision to keep the car manual only. An automatic or paddle-shift mechanism would add cost and complexity, Mr. Matthew said.

This isn't the first time Mazda - the "zoom-zoom" Japanese car brand - has taken a shot at the American market with a manual-only, budget-minded sports car. The original Mazda Miata, introduced in 1989, was for many years available only with a manual. If you wanted a cushy drop-top with an automatic, there was the Chrysler LeBaron. More recently, the Mazdaspeed sedan was offered only with a speed manual.