What are paddle shifters?

Paddle shifters are the most common way to shift gears manually in automatic and semi-automatic cars. While most auto gearboxes let you put the car in 'D' and leave it to its own devices, you might decide you want manual control over the gears – usually to indulge in sportier driving or to keep the car in a deliberately low gear, for example.

In cars with this feature, you'll find two paddles behind the steering wheel within easy reach of your fingertips – the one on the left side usually shifts down a gear, while the right-hand paddle shifts up. Anyone who's played any car racing video games from the past few years will feel instantly familiar with this setup. The system is computer-controlled, so it won't let you accidentally swap into too low or too high a gear before the engine's ready.