Ah, the manual transmission: the age-old test of patience, coordination, and sheer determination not to stall in front of a line of honking commuters. While most of us have reluctantly accepted the rise of the one-pedal-driving future, Ford just filed a patent that might tickle the gearhead in all of us—an electronic manual shifter for electric vehicles. Yep, you read that right. Manuals might be coming back… minus the transmission.
According to the patent, Ford’s virtual stick-shift includes a base, a shifter handle, and a mysterious “plurality of actuators” (which is patent-speak for “don’t ask too many questions”). It outlines a stick that moves along a “predetermined virtual path,” with haptic motors mimicking the resistance and engagement of actual gear shifts.
In short, it’s fake. But it’s fun fake.
The Faux Transmission Trend
Ford isn’t alone in this gloriously unnecessary pursuit. Back in 2022, Toyota played with a similar idea, filing a patent for a virtual manual transmission and testing it in the Lexus UX300e. They went the extra mile with a clutch pedal and joystick setup, programmed to replicate the thrill of actual gear changes. Rumor has it, the tech could find its way into the next Lexus LFA. Yes, the LFA’s spiritual successor might have a pretend gearbox. Cue the purists crying into their carbon fiber coffee mugs.
Then there’s Hyundai, which introduced the Ioniq 5 N’s “N e-Shift.” It offers eight simulated gears and makes shifting noises too. That one’s not even trying to be ironic—it’s just in on the joke.
Gimmick or Gateway to Engagement?
Fake gearboxes sound like something cooked up in the back of a simulator arcade, but they’re not totally without merit. Lexus boss Koji Sato argues that simulated shifting could boost driver engagement, injecting some much-needed soul into EVs that often feel like mobile phones on wheels. There’s a nostalgic charm in rowing through gears—even if those gears don’t technically exist.
But here’s the rub: more components mean more complexity. EVs have earned fans for their simplicity and reliability. Toss in a digital gearbox simulator with haptic motors and coded resistance curves, and suddenly you’re complicating a vehicle architecture praised for its minimalism.
So… Should Ford Go Through With It?
Absolutely. Why not?
If driving is supposed to be fun, let’s bring back the fun—even if it’s digitally engineered and completely superfluous. At worst, it’s a marketing gimmick. At best, it’s a new way to connect the driver with the car. And in a future filled with silent, soulless sedans, a clicky, buzzing, “gearbox” might just be the throwback we didn’t know we needed.
Also, let’s be real: half of us can’t wait to explain to passengers that yes, this gear shifter is fake, and yes, it still makes us feel like racing legends.
