Toyota testing radical performance EV
According to reports, Toyota is developing an electric sports car that features a manual transmission.
For many years, Toyota was viewed as a producer of dull, unremarkable cars. However, they've recently become an unlikely hero for performance car enthusiasts in the electric age. In response to this shift, they're developing a brand-new electric car under their Gazoo Racing (GR) label that will not only produce the sound of a conventional car engine, but will also feature a manual gearbox complete with a clutch pedal.
According to a report from Autocar in Britain, Akio Toyoda, the chairman of Toyota, has taken a keen interest in the development of the 'BEV GR.' He spoke with members of the media at Le Mans 24-hours recently and provided insight into the development of this revolutionary electric car. The goal is to create a vehicle that is both exciting and enjoyable to drive, much like the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and GR 86.
Toyoda, in an interview with Autocar, emphasized that the enjoyment of driving should not depend on the type of powertrain a car has. According to him, he himself tested an upcoming electric BEV GR car, which may or may not be released in the market soon. However, he stressed that the foremost goal in producing such vehicles is to ensure that they are entertaining to drive, regardless of the powertrain used.
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Although there isn't much information available about the technical specifications of the BEV GR prototype, Toyoda announced that it will have several features that mimic the feeling of driving a traditional, gas-powered car with a manual gearbox.
According to Toyoda, the GR BEV sets itself apart from other battery electric vehicles being developed. Its distinguishing characteristic is that it produces engine sounds that are audible, despite the fact that there is no smell of gasoline. In addition, the vehicle includes both a manual transmission and a clutch. If a person were to drive the car without knowing anything about the powertrain, they would likely not be able to determine what type of vehicle it is.
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It is not entirely clear what he is referring to when he mentions a "manual transmission" since electric vehicles usually only need a transmission with one speed. It is probable that he is talking about a simulated transmission, which is similar to the one that Hyundai is working on for their new Ioniq 5 N and was tested in the RN22e that we drove last year. This kind of system uses an artificial power cut that restricts how much power is delivered until you change to the next "gear" using the paddle shift. It seems that Toyota has taken this idea even further by including a clutch pedal.
Toyota has not abandoned the production of high-performance cars that use internal combustion engines. According to a statement made to Torquecafe.com earlier this year, Toyota is developing various carbon neutral fuels, such as liquid hydrogen fuel, to sustain its new GR hero vehicle range and keep them speedy and engaging with engine sounds.
Stephen Ottley has received numerous awards for his work as a journalist, specifically focusing on automobiles and motor racing. His articles have been published in the most prominent publications throughout Australia.
