Electric vehicles are undoubtedly exciting. But for gearheads, the simple electric powertrain of an EV does away with the complexities of mechanical components. Hyundai is bringing back the feel of gear shifting in its EV lineup. Here’s why that’s important.
Electric vehicles generally offer only one moving part, the motor. Unlike a gas-powered vehicle, you don’t have hundreds of moving components working together to deliver consistent, streamlined power. With the nation’s best-selling and well-loved performance vehicles, these carefully crafted mechanical components work together to produce the humm of a powerful engine and the purr of gears shifting into place.
Without these feedback sounds, driving becomes less of a thrill and more of an automatic response. Hyundai seeks to change this with its simulated EV gears that put the manual back in manual transmission.
Before you visit your local Hyundai dealer to tap into this power for yourself, read on to learn more about how Hyundai’s simulated EV gears are set to change the EV landscape.
Hyundai Leads the Path of Innovation With the ‘N E-Shift’
Hyundai has always been a leader in innovation, and its latest performance vehicle, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, puts that innovation on full display. The automaker will likely feature its one-of-a-kind N e-shift technology on the Ioniq 5 N performance model.
The purpose behind the N e-shift is to give drivers an experience that simulates what it’s like to drive a dual-clutch transmission, something that obviously can’t happen with an electric powertrain.
N e-shift is already outfitted on the Ioniq 6-based RN22e, a sort of concept model being used by the automaker in its mobile laboratory. When unveiling the tech via an introduction video, Hyundai delves into what the simulated shift technology looks and sounds like.
The simulated sound system is not quite fully developed, as features and additional enhancements are still being incorporated. According to Albert Biermann, Hyundai’s Executive Technical Advisor, the enhanced sound system will give drivers ultimate control over sound output and what they want their performance vehicle to sound like.
“By the time we launch Ioniq 5 N, drivers will be able to choose from several different character sounds or even create and name their own sounds. I expect you’ll also be able to download new sounds over the air, which we create, but stuff like this will involve ongoing development,”
explains Biermann.
See What Other Car Makers Have To Say
This innovative tech has certainly caught the eyes of global leaders, including BMW and Lexus. BMW is currently working on unveiling its first full EV and has toyed with different ways to incorporate performance-enhancing elements traditional BMW drivers look for. The simulated gearbox offered by Hyundai offers an appealing outlook for BMW as it’s a helpful way for track drivers to gauge their speed.
Lexus announced that it’s working on similar simulations that enhance driver experience through its recent project of creating a full manual-like transmission. Lexus plans to incorporate this tech on its future sporty EV models and will offer other features, including a physical gear lever and three pedals.
Visit Your Local Hyundai Dealer to Learn More
You can learn more about Hyundai’s commitment to innovation by visiting your local Hyundai dealer today. Explore the highly anticipated Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and discover how Hyundai plans to continue offering the EVs drivers want with the features they love.
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