- Toyota’s simulated manual could stall despite lacking an actual clutch.
- Patent includes clutch pedal, shifter and launch control functionality.
- System may adapt assistance levels based on driver skill assessments.
For decades, engineers have worked tirelessly to make cars easier to drive, but Toyota and Lexus have been wondering if we’d have more fun by undoing some of that progress. A newly uncovered patent suggests the automaker is still developing a simulated manual transmission system for electric vehicles, complete with a clutch pedal, gear lever. The tech will adapt to your skill level, making things harder for handy drivers, and will stall if you’re not careful with your footwork.
Related: Hyundai’s Gated Manual Patent Looks Like A Koenigsegg Idea On An Elantra Budget
Even though there’s no combustion engine to kill and no actual gearbox to abuse, Toyota‘s concept would recreate the experience of fumbling a manual transmission with remarkable dedication. Select the wrong gear, mishandle the clutch, or generally drive like someone learning stick for the first time, and the vehicle could respond by cutting motor torque and bringing the car to a halt, according to new patents.
A Fake Gearbox That Takes Itself Seriously
Toyota has been experimenting with the idea of a simulated manual shift system for EVs for several years. A prototype version appeared in a Lexus UX300e back in 2022, pairing a clutch pedal and shifter with synthesized engine sounds designed to make an electric vehicle feel more like a traditional performance car.
The latest patent, spotted by Carbuzz, suggests the company hasn’t given up on the concept. In fact, it’s getting even more realistic. According to the filing, the software would calculate a virtual engine speed and determine whether your selected gear makes sense for the situation. Too few “revs” when pulling away and your fake engine will cut out.
Your Manual Skills Under The Microscope
Toyota may also let the system judge your driving ability. The patent describes technology that could assess whether the person behind the wheel is experienced with a manual transmission and adjust assistance features accordingly. Novices might automatically receive hill-hold support, while more confident drivers could be left to fend for themselves. A launch control function is also reportedly part of the package, allowing drivers to dump the fake clutch for a more aggressive getaway.
Last year, Lexus assistant chief engineer Yasuyuki Terada told Australia’s Drive that regulatory questions in some countries remain unresolved and have held up the program. In the UK and Japan, for example, drivers who pass their test in an automatic are not allowed to drive a manual, so would they be allowed to drive a fake manual?
“If we offer that system and you can turn it on and off, which license is that car allowable?” Terada mused.
Whether Toyota ever puts this oddball idea into production remains unclear. But while some automakers are trying to make EVs feel futuristic, Toyota is determined to make them feel gloriously old-fashioned. It seems to us that there’s a ton of mileage in this idea. Toyota could roll out add-ons to enthusiasts for a fee, like a simulated non-synchro ’box that forces your to perfectly rev-match every downwhift with no help. Or maybe let you “swap” gear ratios and final drives to see which setup works best on your favorite twisty road.
