The Lexus Electrified Sport concept will receive a manual gearbox
Don’t worry purists, a manual transmission has been confirmed for the Lexus Electrified Sport concept, the electric successor to the LFA. According to Moto1.com, Matt Harrison, president of Toyota Motors Europe, praised the company’s manual transmission for electric vehicles at the Kenshiki Forum in Brussels.
A manual transmission is not required for vehicles powered by batteries. Since the optimal RPM range for electric motors is substantially larger than that of an internal combustion engine, almost every EV is equipped with a single-speed direct-drive transmission. The purpose of Toyota’s electric vehicle manual gearbox, which is coupled with a clutch and gear shifter, is to simulate the sensation and exhilaration of manually shifting gears.
“From the outside, this vehicle is as quiet as any other BEV. But the driver is able to experience all the sensations of a manual transmission vehicle,” said Lexus Electrified’s chief engineer Takashi Watanabe. “It is a software-based system, so it can be programmed to reproduce the driving experience of different vehicle types, letting the driver choose their preferred mapping.”
The Lexus Electrified Sport concept is a low-riding sports car with striking style that serves as a sneak peek into the brand’s upcoming design aesthetic. As of now, Lexus has stated that the vehicle will have a 0-62 mph time in just over two seconds and a mileage range of at least 430 miles.
Also expected for the Lexus Electrified Sport concept is Toyota’s One Motion Grip steer-by-wire system. Although there’s no mechanical link between the steering column and wheels in this configuration, it helps improve control at lower speeds and stability at higher speeds. Lexus’ twin-motor, all-wheel-drive Direct4 system, which enhances control by adjusting the torque delivered to each wheel is also featured.
The production version will launch once the new tech is ready. We honestly can’t wait for the Japanese luxury marque to unleash this beast.
