The Influence of Imitation Gear Changes in Electric Vehicles on Driver Annoyance

I’m in the passenger seat of the 2027 Genesis GV60 Magma, the Korean manufacturer’s compact electric performance SUV that’s quite fiery and predominantly orange. Behind the wheel is experienced endurance racer and the newest member of Genesis Magma Racing, Dani Juncadella. We’re located at Circuit Paul Ricard in southern France, and despite the picturesque surroundings, snowflakes the size of marbles are striking the windshield. He engages launch control, and we accelerate away from the starting line, propelling into the initial turn. Amid the chaotic motion of being tossed around like a puppet, I briefly forget that we’re in an EV.

Why? Because the interior of the GV60 resonates with a robust growl that fluctuates as Juncadella manipulates the paddle shifters and floors the accelerator, the car’s powertrain emulating the sensations associated with a gas engine and a genuine transmission. But it isn’t a gas engine at all. Instead, it features a “Virtual Gear Shift System,” or simulated gear shifts, software engineered to replicate the auditory and driving experience of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission found in internal combustion engine vehicles. And it does so remarkably well.

This concept isn’t novel. A similar technology, under a different name, is present in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, where it has also received acclaim from reviewers, including ourselves. What is fresh, however, is the intense reaction the notion of simulated shift points in EVs is eliciting currently. Following our report that Porsche plans to adopt a comparable system for its electric offerings earlier this month, forums and social media exploded with enthusiasts and EV purists condemning the idea, expressing their distaste for the entire notion, asserting it diminishes the driving experience, and declaring they would never purchase a Porsche (as if they were ever going to, anyway).

On the r/technology subreddit, one pro-EV commenter remarked that you must be “next-level foolish” to desire artificial gear shifts, while another likened it to the grocery carts with a plastic car cockpit attached at the front for children. Within r/electricvehicles, someone envisioned if Henry Ford had made the Model T to drop “simulated manure” for those who preferred horses. Then on r/Porsche, numerous individuals expressed it was “bothersome” that their cherished brand was allocating R&D resources toward something so trivial. On r/cars, one compared it to “placing playing cards in bicycle spokes… lamentable.” The term “pathetic” was frequently cited across various platforms.

The internet is rife with polarized opinions, but this one stood out. It’s rare to witness these two factions so united, particularly over a completely optional software attribute that adds no weight or complexity, and aims to enhance the driving enjoyment for those accustomed to gasoline vehicles. I mean, if I didn’t mention the examples, could you identify which subreddits the aforementioned screenshots originated from? It prompted us to ponder: what’s truly fueling the animosity? Is it the superiority of internal combustion engines? Is it the superiority of electric vehicles? Or could it be a strange mix of both?

While you might believe that the GV60 couldn’t possibly deceive you, the reality is, it indeed can. Hyundai and Genesis engineers have perfectly captured the relationship between the pedals, the paddle shifters, the sounds transmitted through the speakers, and the motor responses in each “gear.” It hits the (non-existent) rev limiter, jolts on abrupt shifts, and hesitates if you upshift prematurely.

Returning to Circuit Paul Ricard, as we approach the renowned esses, Juncadella downshifts as if he were maneuvering any other sports car—utilizing the drivetrain’s regenerative braking to decelerate the vehicle and prepare the suspension for entering the corner—before fully turning in and resuming acceleration. The downshifts are precise, with the modulation of the throttle distinctly audible, and Juncadella’s accelerator adjustments mid-corner translate into a hyper-realistic simulation. Artificial, yes. Yet, I can’t help but think that if you aim to attract a wider array of buyers who might dismiss EVs as unexciting, this is the approach to take. Make it relatable, make it thrilling, make it enjoyable.

In reality, on the traditional enthusiast side, there are no complaints when a manufacturer includes a genuine manual transmission in a gasoline vehicle, even if it results in slower objective performance compared to a dual-clutch. Yet, that’s exactly how many EV enthusiasts reacted—why would I desire something that disrupts that beautiful, seamless torque? Why would companies deliberately worsen a car to accommodate fools? Meanwhile, many of those ICE enthusiasts, who would eagerly commend the addition of a manual transmission to a vehicle in the name of driving engagement, are rejecting artificial gear shifts being introduced solely for that same purpose.

Watch my video above and decide for yourself. Some may argue it’s only a slight improvement over playing Gran Turismo, yet it’s not. Unlike a video game, real-world implications stem from your actions. Downshift too many times, and you’ll decelerate excessively heading into a corner, upsetting the vehicle’s dynamics. Fail to upshift at the correct moment, and you’ll experience too much drag as you exit a corner and struggle down a straight—in reality.

What we’re witnessing in the visceral reaction to the Porsche news boils down to all of us, either knowingly or unknowingly, being subjected to a significant shift. Whether you’re exploring r/electricvehicles or VW Vortex, your vehicle is an integral part of your identity, and anything that challenges that logic can be difficult to accept. The EV community wishes for the rest of society to follow in their footsteps and invest in electric vehicles for the same reasons they did—no emissions, pristine electric performance, cutting-edge technology is appealing, and so forth. News like this serves as an unwelcome reminder that numerous individuals simply will not do so, and vast corporations are beginning to make product choices catering to those customers instead as they exhaust the pool of early adopters. The inevitable feels slightly less certain.

However, many ICE enthusiasts hear about simulated gear shifts and don’t perceive themselves as being catered to. Instead, they interpret it as manufacturers acknowledging EVs lack a crucial element they cherish in gasoline cars, yet offering a superficial substitute as a temporary solution. It can’t possibly compare to the genuine experience, because if it did, it would be another strike against a fading era. It’s a difficult reality to accept.

That’s a lot of emotions and sentiments wrapped up in what is, frankly, a trivial feature. At the same time, it’s perfectly understandable and likely unavoidable. Personally, I view it as similar to launch control, another high-tech novelty devoid of substantial function in reality—but it’s enjoyable, and it brings us joy. Why should simulated shifts be regarded any differently?

In the end, if they’re suitable for a WEC Hypercar racing driver, they’re suitable for me. And likely for you, too. Just give it a try before forming your judgment.

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