Porsche is now considering simulated gear shifts in its electric vehicles, a surprising reversal after initially opposing the idea. Last year, a development driver for the brand described such systems as “unnecessary.” However, as demonstrated by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the lack of practical value doesn’t prevent a feature from being entertaining and enhancing the driving experience.
An Evolving Engineering Perspective
Porsche’s initial stance was logical from a technical standpoint. A gear shift in a combustion engine involves a brief interruption of power, which is a drawback during acceleration. For an electric motor that doesn’t need it, it seemed reasonable to simply avoid it.
However, during a test drive of the electric Cayenne prototype, Sascha Niesen, head of Cayenne prototype validation at Porsche, hinted that the brand is no longer so firmly against the idea.
A Prototype with a Simulated Eight-Speed Gearbox
Not only is Porsche open to the idea, but it has already built a prototype equipped with a simulated eight-speed gearbox, complete with engine sounds. These are not synthetic beeps but authentic sounds, those of a traditional V8, specifically recorded from a Cayenne V8.
“We recorded the sounds both for the interior of the cabin and for the exterior, the sound coming from the exhaust,” explained Niesen. Adapting this sound to electric motors, which operate at very different RPMs, requires fine-tuning to modulate the sound over a much wider RPM range.
“Virtual Gear Shifts” Requiring Hardware
Niesen confirmed that “virtual gear shifts” are under study. Unlike a simple software update, their implementation would require additional hardware, such as paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which are absent on the current Cayenne EV prototype.
Porsche has indeed built a concept vehicle with these paddles. Niesen, who drove it in March, admits he was initially skeptical, fearing an artificial gimmick designed by “software geeks.” But the project was actually led by experienced engineers who had worked on the brand’s dual-clutch and torque converter automatic transmissions.
An Authentic Feel That Surprises
“They know what they’re doing,” he stated. “They managed to give it the feel of a real torque converter automatic. I couldn’t tell the difference.” The result convinced him, exceeding all his expectations.
An Option for Driver Engagement, Not a Requirement
Niesen acknowledges that not all customers demand this feature, especially in the EV world. However, there is a market for this level of driving engagement. The added value lies in the fact that it can be activated or deactivated at will.
“That’s the key,” he emphasizes. “You have to give the customer the option to be more engaged, but in an EV, it can’t be mandatory.” He draws a parallel with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) that introduced simulated gears for a more natural feel, even though it wasn’t necessary.
Often, in the battle between needs and wants, it’s the wants that prevail. Porsche seems to have understood that the thrill of driving can also come from a good simulation.