Toyota is testing an electric GR sports car with a stick-shift
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing is developing a sporty battery-EV that mimics a manual, gas-powered car in every way.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, a.k.a. the “Master Driver” at the helm of the company, told Autocar that he has already test-driven a prototype. “What the company is trying to do is explore the idea of what it is that we shouldn’t lose in a car even if it becomes BEV,” he said.
Top of his list are three pedals, a manual transmission, and an emotive engine noise, so the electric GR sportster has them all.
“The biggest difference to other BEVs we are developing is that, when you are in the GR BEV, you can actually hear the engine noises, even if you can’t smell gasoline,” added Toyoda. “There is also a manual transmission and also a clutch. If you put someone in the car and asked them to drive it and guess the powertrain, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you.”
It will all be an elaborate simulation, however, with no direct connection between the clutch, shifter and motor. Instead electronics will control torque output in relation to the driver’s choice of gears. Toyota has previously talked of a Lexus equivalent system, which according to chief engineer Takashi Watanabe could even be programmed to simulate stalling, forcing the driver to really pay attention.
“I don’t know if that car will make it onto the market yet,” admitted Toyoda. “But the first priority of making these kinds of cars is that they need to be fun to drive, no matter what powertrain they use.”
I said a while back that there is nothing to stop a manual transmission in a EV. No it is not needed but for those that want them there is no emission or CAFE to prevent them.
But then again you will need to put up with the EV.
Also I see overdrive units as a way to use smaller cheaper and lighter batteries and how to extend the range of these models. Get on the high way and over drive the gearing and increase the range.
100% this. Combining even a 3 speed transmission with a small electric motor could reap huge benefits for affordability and range.
My first thought was, is June 16th the Japanese equivalent of April Fool’s Day? Why simulate a transmission? Agree with the above comments about extra gears extending range with smaller, lighter, cheaper batteries.
Agreed, been saying this for a while now. Just because the Torque on an EV doesn’t necessitate a transmission, doesn’t mean that there isn’t a benefit to be had in adding one. You would be able to use both smaller motors and/or smaller batteries to achieve the same range as current, or drastically improve range. The obsession with direct drive and hub motors in EVs is ridiculous. Heck, I remember years ago an episode of Junkyard Wars/Scrapheap Challenge where they built a rock-crawler by bolting a golf-cart motor and controls directly in place of (what I recall was) a Suzuki Sidekick’s engine. So, the vehicle’s transmission and transfer case were still in place, and the thing crawled like you wouldn’t believe, considering how gutless the junked golf cart motor was. It wasn’t fast, but it didn’t need to be.
The direct drive avoids most of the drivetrain losses we have with transmissions, driveshafts, and differentials. Still, I’ll just keep my 911 and my ‘65 Corvair. Someone else can have the EVs.
That they’re expending all this effort to fabricate an “emotive” driving experience shows just how much is being lost. I appreciate the recognition and the effort, but it’s completely fake. It would be like driving a lie. That comprehensively defeats the purpose. Might as well “drive” a simulator.
I have no want for a fake manual transmission in an EV. They can keep it. I’ll enjoy my MK4 Supra or IS 500 instead.
Toyota has been out to lunch as far as “drivers cars” go for many years. This absurd “simulation” of a manual transmission proves my point.
If they want noise, they could just put a dog box with straight cut gears in the thing. It’ll make noise. But on the off chance somebody is reading this at Toyota, as a lifelong customer, the sound effects and simulations completely miss the point. Just put an actual manual transmission in it and keep the ridiculous soundtrack as far away as possible. Does Toyota not remember what gears do or something? Mechanical advantage isn’t exactly the most obscure concept in physics. So, it makes complete sense from an efficiency standpoint, it would be great to drive, and it would be THE ONLY ONE ON THE MARKET. Make it a small truck (like the Tacoma used to be a couple of generations ago) and I’d buy one in a heartbeat. Or just make it an option in other ICE models. However you do it, just actually do it. Nobody’s clamoring for a fake manual. Why do you think everybody clicked on this article? Look at the title. There are plenty of simulators already.
Sorry everyone, adding gear expansion won’t improve EV range, it’ll only add weight. Transmissions are needed for ICE engines to make up for their narrow torque band. How much torque does your favorite engine make from 0-200RPM? Above 10,000?
I can think of a really easy way to add the smell of gasoline.
I can see an idea like this being used to bridge a gap between generations. The “old school “ drivers who lust after that beautiful throaty muffler sound and shifting gears on a large hp engine (like me I guess), vs the next generation who don’t really have a lot of nostalgia for that style of vehicle. By the time my grandchildren can drive there will be no reminiscing of what we consider to be “real cars”. That’s evolution I guess. Bring on the EV. Maybe it will bring down the price of gas so I can still drive my Corvette.
As a MR2 Spyder Mk III owner with almost 300k miles on it, I’d like to see this MkIV with a improved 2ZZ turbo ICE. Thanks
Noise is noise and adding engine noise to an EV is a gimmick. Noise gets very monotonous very fast.