Auto giants caught in "fraud," porsche joins in

At the test drive field, Porsche engineer Sascha Niesen activated the "simulated shifting" mode of the electric Cayenne prototype. The moment he pressed the accelerator pedal deeply, what he heard in his ears was no longer the high-frequency humming of the motor, but the realistic roar of a V8 engine, accompanied by the jolting sensation from the shift paddles.

In March, I test drove a concept car. Initially, I was quite resistant, after all, it was an artificially simulated gear shift, which I thought would feel very fake. But once I actually drove it, I realized they had made the details so realistic that the feel was exactly like a real hydraulic torque converter transmission. Even Nissen himself found it difficult to distinguish between reality and simulation.

The slap in the face came rather quickly. In 2024, Porsche openly criticized Hyundai for introducing simulated shifting for the IONIQ 5 N as "superfluous." Porsche development driver Lars Kern stated at the time that his team had test-driven the Ioniq 5 N but decided not to add the simulated shifting feature to their electric vehicles.

"We study our competitors' practices, but our view has always been, why make things worse?" he told Australia's Drive magazine. "There is no need to emulate the past. We have studied this technology and do not believe it makes sense to use it to make electric motors feel like internal combustion engines."

In the electric era, "faking" in the automotive industry is no longer a new phenomenon, and it seems to be intensifying. Various artificial sounds are played through external speakers, with gear-shifting simulation being one of them. Porsche has recently joined this trend, and the choice of the king of the fuel car era seems to tell people that switching from a turbocharged engine to dual motors does not mean abandoning the adrenaline-pumping thrill on the track.

65% dissatisfaction! Ford relies on patents to solve the electric car driving fun dilemma.

For many driving enthusiasts, pure electric vehicles lack the driving thrill of traditional manual fuel cars at high RPMs. According to relevant data, 65% of consumers believe that there is a significant shortcoming in driving enjoyment. Even if the smoothness and energy efficiency of the car are outstanding, it is difficult for seasoned car fans to regain the passion for deep interaction with machinery.

Demand drives action, and car companies are beginning to address the challenges. Ford's patent strategy is a typical example.

In March this year, Ford's "Electric Vehicle Shift Component" patent was published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The ingenuity of this solution lies in retaining the physical form of the traditional manual gear shift lever, allowing driving enthusiasts to touch a familiar control medium. The core completely departs from the mechanical linkage structure of fuel vehicles and instead relies on electronic actuators for operation. The "path" during shifting is no longer fixed by physical structures but is entirely defined by software as a "virtual trajectory."

In terms of experience, it can accurately replicate the retro control logic of a 6-speed H-pattern gearbox, allowing users to regain the mechanical memory of "shifting the gear lever into place." It can also switch to a sequential track mode to meet the quick shifting needs during intense driving. The resistance when shifting, the intensity of vibration feedback, and even the subtle texture at the moment of gear engagement can all be adjusted through the system to satisfy different users' preferences for "feel."

More importantly, it is by no means just superficial "window dressing." The electronic actuator not only simulates gear-shifting actions but also directly links with the vehicle's power control system to adjust the rhythm of battery energy output and control the timing of motor torque release, ensuring that power response is precisely synchronized with gear-shifting operations. This design, where actions and power are in sync, meets the "sense of driving engagement" that manual transmission enthusiasts crave.

Currently, there is no official information regarding the mass production status of Ford's electric manual transmission. Some consumers believe that if Ford launches a pure electric Mustang sports car (not Mach-E) or a high-performance electric hot hatch in the future, this technology is likely to be applied concurrently. The former continues the Mustang family's sporty lineage, while the latter targets young groups seeking driving pleasure, both maximizing the value of simulated shifting.

Once equipped, it will not only fill the gap of "electric performance cars lacking manual experience" but also possibly attract a group of consumers who are hesitant to switch to electric vehicles due to their attachment to manual transmissions, thereby bringing considerable sales growth to the new car.

From "complaining" to "it's actually great," automotive giants collectively enter the market.

Automakers' attitudes towards simulated shifting have shifted from divergence to collective effort, with each company presenting differentiated solutions.

Compared to last year's technology, Porsche not only simulates gear shift jolts but also attempts to replicate the sound of its V8 engine, retuning it according to the wider RPM range of electric vehicles.

Porsche emphasizes that this is not a mandatory configuration, but rather providing customers with a "choice." This simulated shifting and sound feature essentially seeks a balance between tradition and the future, ensuring that even after electrification, Porsche can still allow drivers to experience the brand's unique driving passion and character.

Toyota's exploration began even earlier. In 2022, Toyota experimented with a "virtual manual system" on the Lexus UX300e: it was equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, clutch pedal, and gear lever, and through sensors and computer integration, it precisely replicated the shifting details of a fuel-powered car. From engine noise and changes in the tachometer to stalling and rollback on hill starts due to improper clutch operation, it allowed drivers to immersively experience traditional driving scenarios.

Ferrari has created a "virtual engine + shifting" combination through patents, using electric motors to simulate the torque characteristics of fuel engines, while speakers recreate the classic V12 sound. It also supports custom adjustments.

Hyundai has equipped the 2025 IONIQ 5 N with E-shift paddles, simulating the shifting rhythm of an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. In manual mode, it can deliberately adjust power output to create shift jolts, and when the virtual RPM reaches the red zone, the "fuel cut-off" sound effect further enhances the track atmosphere.

From Toyota and Ford to Hyundai and Porsche, the collective actions of car companies invariably focus on the niche yet highly loyal group of driving enthusiasts.

For consumers who have favored manual control since the era of fuel vehicles, this system is not just a mechanical replication but also a bond that continues their emotional connection. It allows them to embrace the environmental and efficient advantages of electric vehicles without having to completely say goodbye to the familiar rhythm of shifting gears and the joy of control.

Why is "anti-efficiency" design popular?

Simulating the gear-shifting technology of automotive companies.

From an engineering and efficiency perspective, electric vehicles actually do not need to simulate gear shifting, which seems to be a "counter-efficient" transaction.

The transmission efficiency of a single-stage reducer has reached as high as 97-98%, and the motor's wide range of efficient working conditions is sufficient to cover most operating conditions from low-speed start-stop to high-speed cruising. In contrast, the high-efficiency range of a fuel vehicle engine is very narrow and must rely on a multi-stage transmission to "catch" the power output.

Introducing multiple gears or simulated shifting in electric vehicles implies additional frictional losses, hardware costs, and complexity in safety verification. For this reason, mainstream electric vehicles almost universally adopt a single-gear solution.

Sasha Nissen also admitted that from an engineering perspective, adding fake shift points to electric vehicles is meaningless. This is exactly the same reason given by Lars Kern last year, who believed that fake shifting is merely simulating things from the past.

However, the logic of car companies goes beyond engineering itself. From a business and strategic perspective, this technology carries multiple considerations.

First of all, it is often featured in high-performance or sporty models as a major marketing highlight to increase product premiums. For example, the Porsche Taycan introduces a simulated gear shift function, offering a "boost acceleration" button to temporarily increase power output and enhance driving excitement.

From a marketing perspective, this is not only a core configuration highlight of the Taycan but also conveys the proposition that "even in the electric era, Porsche continues to uphold its sports genes." This transforms high performance from a parameter level into a perceptible driving experience, helping the Taycan establish a foothold in the high-end electric vehicle market and reinforcing Porsche's premium capability as a "sports luxury brand."

"Porsche is a brand that places great emphasis on emotions. The visual, auditory, and tactile aspects are very important parts of the driving experience. You can't just impose the sound of a V8 engine onto a car and expect it to deliver the same driving experience, and the engineers of the electric Cayenne are well aware of this," revealed Nissen in explaining Porsche's plans.

In addition, during the initial stage of electric vehicle adoption, car manufacturers need to help users gradually adapt to the new driving logic, and simulating gear shifting serves as a bridge in this transition.

The driving experience of fuel-powered cars, which spans over a century, has ingrained the concept of "shifting gears" into muscle memory. Suddenly removing this aspect can leave many users who are new to electric vehicles at a loss. Simulated shifting provides a familiar interface and logic, allowing users to interact with the new car in a way they are accustomed to, thereby reducing the difficulty of getting started.

Automotive senior editor Ezra Dyer stated in his review: "Sound is a practical advantage, and the simulated shifting noise is far more exciting than the sound an electric vehicle makes when it decelerates, which is akin to a vacuum cleaner being unplugged."

For the younger generation of consumers, they may not have experience driving fuel-powered cars, but through simulated shifting technology, they can still enjoy the "human-vehicle interaction" fun. This provides direction for the entire industry to explore driving experience standards in the electrification era, driving the market to upgrade its focus from "range and acceleration" to "driving experience and emotional value."

Automotive columnist Utkarsh Sood wrote, "Although I don't want to face it, when the day finally comes that internal combustion engines go extinct, I'd rather experience that false sense of manual shifting. After all, kids should see how we used to drive in the past."

In the current era where electric vehicle performance is generally excessive, mere "speed" can no longer create differentiation. The new competitive frontier is how to be fast with fun and character.

Simulated shifting technology provides a breakthrough for this demand, allowing different brands to create their unique "shifting character": some brands simulate the crisp and swift shifting of a dual-clutch transmission with seamless connections, while others lean towards the aggressive impact of a sequential gearbox, offering a more intense driving immersion. This makes the driving experience not just about speed, but also carrying the unique imprint of the brand.

Simulated shifting may never become a necessity for electric vehicles; it is more like an important experiment for car companies. It's about finding the balance between "pursuing ultimate efficiency" and "preserving the driving experience."

In the future, even when internal combustion engines have completely exited the stage of history, when drivers flick the paddle shifters, hear the familiar roar, and feel the genuine jolts, the passion and memories of driving can still be awakened. This is not an obsession with the past, but rather the key to preserving a human touch in the technology of electric vehicles.

After all, what people purchase is not just a car, but an emotional experience accompanied by speed.