Lexus is engaged on an LFA-inspired electric supercar for launch later this decade, and it is going to be supplied with a manual transmission, full with a 3rd pedal.
The info was confirmed by Takashi Watanabe, chief engineer for Lexus’ electric portfolio, throughout a current presentation in Europe.
Watanabe stated the manual gained’t be like at this time’s manual with a clutch, however as a substitute will likely be a simulated system with software program designed to imitate the texture of at this time’s manual shifters, full with engine sounds to imitate revs constructing and dropping. Even stalls and rolling again on hill begins will likely be factored in, and there will likely be selectable profiles with numerous simulated gear ratios.
“This new undertaking all began with some Lexus engineers reflecting on what they preferred about conventional [internal-combustion] autos and what they needed to miss out on with electric automobiles,” Watanabe stated.
A patent filed by parent company Toyota for simply such a system surfaced earlier this 12 months. Toyota has additionally constructed a prototype of the system utilizing an electric Lexus UX crossover. A video of the prototype was proven briefly through the presentation. Curiously, the prototype had a mode labeled “V8,” which presumably similutes the sound and really feel of a manual automobile with a V-8 engine.
An idea for the electric Lexus supercar was among the dozens of concepts Toyota previewed in late 2021, when the automaker introduced it might launch 30 EVs by 2030, lots of that are to put on a Lexus badge. At the time of the reveal, Toyota stated the supercar could be able to 0-60 mph acceleration within the low two-second vary.
Watanabe stated there will likely be extra software-controlled driving methods within the deliberate supercar. These will embody all-wheel drive, together with steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire methods. The steer-by-wire system will allow a characteristic Lexus calls One Motion Grip, which primarily allows the driving force to comfortably steer a automobile utilizing one hand solely. Lexus will pair One Motion Grip with a yoke-style steering wheel; it is going to be launched within the Lexus RZ electric crossover, although timing for the U.S. market isn’t clear. An analogous system is featured in the related Toyota bZ4X in China.
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This article was initially revealed by Motor Authority, an editorial companion of ClassicCars.com.
