Over at MSN Autos, Lawrence Ulrich makes the point that not all automanuals are that bad. Some people prefer them. Even the Audi S3 will get the Audi/VW 7-speed DSG gearbox, a favorite of enthusiasts. We love the manual transmission. We really do. But we'd be lying if we thought every car actually needed one. Is there a point to a manual Taurus? Sports cars should at least come with a manual option for those who, like us, prefer the feel, but a well-made paddle-shifted transmanual in a grand tourer is a completely reasonable thing. Right?

(QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)

Tesla originally contacted Magna to design and build a total of 4,300 transmissions over a three-year span for the code-name Dark Star and 40,000 transmissions for the White Star. In March 2007, Tesla signed a "Development Agreement and a Statement of Work." Magna shipped the first prototype transmission to Tesla in July along with a note saying the first target production date of September would not be met.

This is where it gets messy. Tesla went and hooked up with Xtrac for transmission work and told Magna is transfer all design and development documentation to them. Magna says it got canned out of nowhere and was unaware of Tesla's unhappiness with its work.

Magna is looking for $6.5 million to compensate for all of the costs, fees and expenses lost by the sudden termination of contract. Another day, another girl fight. [Earn2Tech]

GM CELEBRATES PRODUCTION OF ONE-MILLIONTH ALLISON A-SERIES TRANSMISSION

BALTIMORE - General Motors Corp. announced today the production of its one-millionth Allison A1000 transmission at its Baltimore transmission plant. The transmission is a key component of the powertrain for GM's award-winning Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

GM Powertrain's Baltimore transmission plant was built in 2000, and produced its first transmission on December 5 that year. The A1000-series transmission was first introduced in the 2001 model Silverado and Sierra heavy-duty pickups and since then, customer enthusiasm for the transmission has been outstanding. In fact, the A1000-series transmission provides segment-leading torque output of 660-lb ft.

"Our A1000-series transmission is the benchmark of the industry," said John Buttermore, GM Powertrain vice president of global manufacturing. "It's a strong, durable and proven transmission that, when teamed with the Duramax diesel engine, outperforms any truck competitor in power and torque, while delivering good fuel economy, quietness and control."

Don Burks, UAW Local 239 shop chairman noted, "This is a significant achievement that not only highlights the productivity of our employees but also the teamwork between GM and UAW Local 239. It also demonstrates our commitment to building quality in every transmission - whether it's our first or our one-millionth."

The Allison A1000 six-speed transmission is built to haul big tonnage. It features a class-first range selection function, which allows the driver to easily select the desired gear, via a thumb-activated switch on the shifter, providing a feeling of enhanced control in unique driving situations, such as towing on a steep grade.

The transmission's sixth gear - essentially a second overdrive gear - enables a wide, 5.08:1 overall forward gear ratio and allows the vehicle's engine to operate at lower rpm, particularly during higher-speed driving on highways and freeways. Its 0.61 ratio provides a 1,550-rpm engine speed at 60 mph. The engine uses less fuel at lower rpm, enabling increased fuel mileage and range.

A low-traction mode also is a feature of the Allison A1000 transmission. When the driver selects second gear while stopped and wheel slip occurs, the transmission torque-manages the engine to limit tire slip on slippery road surfaces. The Allison A1000 also has a unique, GM-patented elevated idle mode, which allows for faster interior warm-up. The system, which is activated through the vehicle's driver information center, is synchronized with the engine. When elevated idle is active, the transmission increases the load on the engine so that it will generate heat more quickly and warm the interior in less time.

The GM Powertrain Baltimore transmission plant is approximately 450,000 square feet and has 415 hourly and salaried employees. More than 175,000 transmissions are produced at the facility annually. In 2006, the Baltimore transmission plant was selected to be the exclusive manufacturer for GM's all-new two-mode hybrid transmissions. Hybrid transmission production begins at the Baltimore plant later this month and will be installed in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrid SUVs that will debut in the marketplace later this year.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 280,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall.

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