America’s Last Stick-Shift Audi Sedan Is Rarer Than A Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport

The past decade or so has brought about a rapid decline of the manual transmission. In 2016, there were 92 new cars on sale that would let you row your own gears. In 2026, that number’s fallen to a mere 24 models, with five of those not expected to make it to 2027. Normally, the discontinuation of a manual is a quiet affair, but instead of quietly shuffling the option of a manual gearbox out the back door, Audi decided to send it out with a bang. Welcome to the absurdly rare A4 Ultra Sport.

The final-generation Audi A4 was a bit of a gem. Sure, it’s not quite as athletic in the bends as a BMW 330i or Alfa Romeo Giulia, but it’s comfortable, made of lovely materials, and surprisingly robust for a luxury sedan. Launched in America for the 2017 model year, it featured the third-generation EA888 two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 252 horsepower, 273 lb.-ft. of torque, and vastly improved reliability over previous standard A4 turbocharged engines.

With time, we’ve discovered that owners will likely have to do a water pump and thermostat along with the crankcase ventilation system eventually, but serious issues are incredibly rare. Plus, if you wanted to reduce potential troubles down the line, the B9 A4 was the last model you could buy with a six-speed manual transmission.

Ticking that box gave you a smooth shifter, a reasonably light clutch pedal, and performance to spare. Even with just 252 horsepower on tap, a stick-shift 2018 A4 2.0T Quattro ran from zero-to-60 mph in 5.1 seconds during Car And Driver instrumented testing. Impressively, only some of that swiftness can be attributed to the traction of an all-wheel-drive launch. Thanks to solid low-end torque, that A4 also put down a five-to-60 MPH run of six seconds flat, four-tenths quicker than a GR Corolla and just two-tenths behind a brand new Volkswagen GTI with a dual-clutch transaxle. Strong stuff, although expect a character of refinement instead of frenzy. As the magazine wrote:

The A4’s acceleration is accompanied by a refined manner and a stoic demeanor. Foot-to-the-floor runs feel more like healthy exercise than desperate straining. The cabin is quiet, and the suspension and body are free of unwanted noise or unwelcome movement. The ride is firm and stable, and a healthy dose of understeer ensures the rear end never feels as if it’s about to take the lead; adding throttle midcorner simply tightens the line in nearly every circumstance short of 10/10ths, which you’re not likely to reach on the street. Steering inputs result in precise directional changes, although the helm can feel a little overboosted at times and light at highway speeds.

Mind you, the writing was sort of on the wall for the stick-shift B9-generation A4 pretty much as soon as it launched. Audi forecast a take rate of about five percent, a number that simply wasn’t sustainable in the long run. Thus, at the end of the 2018 model year, the plug was pulled on the row-your-own A4 but not before a little celebration.

The 2018 A4 Ultra Sport wasn’t the first compact Audi sedan to bear that designation. It harkened back to a package for the 2004 and 2005 A4 that added deeper valences and skirts, multispoke wheels, an S-Line three-spoke steering wheel, and aluminum interior trim in addition to sports suspension and summer tires. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 2018 A4 Ultra Sport followed a similar formula in extremely limited numbers.

This 40-unit run-out special added 19-inch rotor-style alloy wheels, mirror caps and a rear spoiler made from carbon fiber, black trim around the windows and on the grille, a black headliner, sports seats, and a sports steering wheel. As for functional changes under the skin, it also included lowered springs and adaptive dampers, along with a variable-ratio steering rack. Equipment levels were understandably high. Think stainless pedals, carbon fiber interior trim from the RS division, a full digital instrument cluster, a Bang & Olufsen 19-speaker sound system, power-folding mirrors, and LED headlights. The only color on offer was Quantum Grey, normally reserved for the S4, meaning pretty much the entire run of A4 Ultra Sports were identical. All except for one.

As it turns out, precisely one A4 Ultra Sport was built in fully-loaded Prestige trim as a company car of sorts. See, for years, Audi enthusiasts could only find 39 of the 40 Ultra Sports when searching by VIN, with this one-of-one example hidden due to a different trim code in the VIN. Unlike other examples, this especially unique A4 Ultra Sport came with added luxuries like a head-up display, laminated front side glass, and a 360-degree camera system. A true unicorn, then.

Still, it’s not like the Ultra Sport is common as a whole. A 40-car run is fewer units than Bugatti made of the Chiron Pur Sport, so these last-call manual A4s don’t pop up for sale often. This example sold on Bring A Trailer in 2025 for $24,250, and it seems both well-sold and well-bought. With 45,000 miles on the clock, a clean Carfax, and some minor visual wear and tear, it looks like an honest daily driver.

One year prior, this A4 Ultra Sport sold for $32,850 on Cars & Bids. With 41,300 miles on the clock, a clean Carfax, and great presentation in a hotter market, it’s not entirely surprising this example brought in some serious money. Sure, the carbon fiber mirror caps and spoiler are starting to delaminate, but the seats and steering wheel look to be in excellent shape.

The stick-shift B9 Audi A4 is already an exceptionally rare bird, with only about 2,132 examples sold in America over its brief lifespan. Even compared to that, though, the Ultra Sport is proper hen’s teeth stuff, representing just under 1.9 percent of total stick-shift production. So, if you happen to see a grey A4 with a dash of carbon fiber and a conspicuous set of alloy wheels out in the wild, just know that you might be looking at the very last stick-shift Audi sedan sold in America.

Top graphic image: Cars & Bids