Ferrari to introduce gearshift simulation in electric cars
Ferrari has long been known for loud and fast cars. With the age of electrification, the first part is becoming obsolete, but this could be seen as a loss of brand identity. Other manufacturers have also made similar attempts to trademark the feel of an ICE engine in an electric car, including Ford from the USA, which announced the patenting of a so-called ‘Shifter Assembly For Electric Vehicles, as well as Toyota, which announced a full system with a gear lever, clutch pedal and rev counter has been installed and demonstrated in a Lexus UX 300e in 2022.
According to the patent application, Ferrari is also working on a fake gearstick for electric cars. A second Ferrari patent deals with a corresponding audio system for electric cars with specific sounds for simulating gear changes.
Specifically, the gear shift patent covers a system to simulate the torque output of an internal-combustion engine and the gearshifts of a geared transmission. This would allow drivers to actuate virtual gearshifts via steering-column paddles, as in other Ferrari models, as Motor1 wrote in a report. The second patent is for an audio control system which would function on both the interior and exterior to produce a digitally generated sound that corresponds with a virtual engine and transmission model. Drivers can opt between several options, including “historical, modern or futuristic, adrenaline-filled, [or] relaxed.” The patent even includes details for methods for recording the sound of internal-combustion cars.
With Ferrari’s first fully electric model yet to be built, the Italian sports car manufacturer really does not seem ready to let go of the past, as it also announced plans to launch its first electric car with a fake exhaust noise at the start of the year. All that has been confirmed electric Ferrari will be a four-door model, built in the new factory in Maranello and that it will receive battery cells from Ferrari’s long-standing battery partner SK On, at least for the hybrid models. Ferrari has stated that it intends to present everything else later this year.
0 Comments