Electric Lexus LFA Successor Could Have a Simulated Manual Gearbox
The electric Lexus LFA successor could have a simulated manual transmission, according to Lexus president Koji Sato.
The Electric Lexus LFA successor is no secret. Nor is it a surprise that Lexus wants to get it right, which means it has to be than the LFA. That’s a tall order. Even if they started with the original car and its incredible V10, it would be a hard task. Starting with an electric car like the Lexus Electrified Sport? It’s gonna take more than a sexy body and the promise of electric supercar performance.
Lexus knows this more than anyone. The company is intentionally doling out info to keep interest high while buying the necessary time. We got the first look at the Electrified Sport at the end of last year. Lexus followed up by quoting performance numbers. It expects the new car to set blistering 0 to 60 mph times in the low two-second range and go up to 435 miles on one battery charge. Next was a trip to the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed for an official “unboxing.” And this week, the company hinted at the possibility of a “simulated” manual gearbox.
More Electrified Sport Info
Top Gear recently spoke with Lexus President Koji Sato, who is experimenting with a simulated manual transmission. “It’s a hobby of mine, a crazy thing. I’m looking for better engagement, even in an EV, I want another link from the car to the driver. It’s not just about efficiency. I love cars and want something different.”
According to Sato, the manual gearbox would use software to impose a speed limiter on the electric motor. To release the limiter, the driver uses the software to shift into the next gear. It’s not yet out of the experimental stage, so there’s no guarantee it will make it to production.
What we do know about the Lexus LFA’s successor is that it will feature drive-by-wire technology and torque vectoring, which Sato calls “one of our key areas to realize vehicle dynamics.” He also indicated that carbon fiber will be used “as necessary” and that the new car will heavily leverage aerodynamics for drag reduction as well as controlling body movement.
And while the technology and specs are important, Sato is quick to downplay them. “Specs are of course important, but I really want this car to be a halo, a showcase for the future of Lexus driving dynamics, to express the overall Lexus driving signature.”
In the conversation with Top Gear, Sato hinted at Lexus’ direction. He also acknowledged the challenge of following up the LFA with an EV. “We want to express the excitement of the LFA in an electric vehicle. That’s the challenge we face.” However, the one area he avoided was the timeline. When pressed for a date, he simply answered, “Let’s speak soon.”
Photos: Lexus
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