Acura calls it Sequential SportShift, but it's still just an automatic transmission just like all other automatics. The shifter lever isn't connected to the transmission by linkages or cables, it's all electronic so shifting in SportShift is the same as moving the shifter through the gears like a normal auto tranny. The thing I don't like about my CLS is that in SportShift, it automatically shifts from 1st to 2nd. There's no way to keep it in 1st unless I take it out of SS and manually shift it down to 1st similar to any other auto. Also when slowing down in SS mode, it will automatically downshift by itself, just like a regular auto tranny. If I'm in 5th and I come to a stop, i don't have to down shift or anything, just step on the brake.If you're familiar to the V8 performance parts of the 70' and early 80's, B&M and Hurst had a "Dual Mode Shifter". It did the same thing 30 years ago.