imaginary gear shift

• Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the most powerful car in the history of the brand

• Part of its marketing strategy was to disguise the fact that we were dealing with an electric car.

The electric sports car faces a very difficult task: convincing the majority of purists. Those who have until now been willing to sacrifice comfort on a daily basis, or who would rather spend good money on a second car to enjoy the weekend, tend to look askance at electric vehicles.

I always argue that an electric car is a great option in urban environments. Going further, depending on autonomy and our habits, modern electric vehicles with a battery of more than 60 kWh will come in handy. I truly believe they help most drivers.

But if you like drivingBeyond car travel, it’s likely that you enjoy manual shifting and cornering with your ears tuned to always know what the car is asking for. One more gear, heel-toe, regressive braking…

With an electric car, you drive differently. Whoever is looking for these sensations will not find them. Yes, you will have an all-or-nothing accelerator pedal at your disposal, instantly delivering all the power the car is capable of. Or the ability to play with regressive braking and drive the car most of the time using one pedal.

These are different approaches, one does not have to be better than the other. But Hyundai suggested that they Ionic 5N, the sportiest version of the line and the fastest car in history also won first place. At least for those who love paddle shifters and a dual-clutch transmission.

It doesn’t exist, but I’m sorry

Just when it seemed that manufacturers were determined to abandon the manual transmission, a small outbreak of ideas and concepts arose to ensure its survival. Or at least pretend that she is still alive.

For some time now, it’s not just about electric cars. Supercars are so powerful that you have to choose an automatic or semi-automatic transmission. Among the most famous sports cars, brands have left this option behind or simply offered it as an add-on that provides exclusivity and, of course, costs money.

Electric cars don’t need a transmission and, with very few exceptions, don’t have one. This allows the electric car to deliver maximum power from the first moment and left us with some interesting images, such as the Rimac Nevera driving in reverse at 275 km/h.

But there is an obvious problem that may not convince sports car enthusiasts. Hyundai, which is already experimented With change by wireoffers a driving mode in its Ioniq 5 N that simulates a semi-automatic car with cam-assisted dual-clutch gear shifting.

But compared to other already proprietary options, Hyundai wants you to sit behind the wheel as if you’re racing towards the red line of a traffic light, then push the lever and feel the “thump” of the shift. And in the absence of evidence of this, it appears that they have achieved this.

Along with the noise of the internal combustion engine, which has the difficult task of sounding in time with the gear changes, simulating a car gaining speed, the first videos are surprising. In this video recorded AutoTopNL Observed as a hoarse sound nail down “change” What does a driver who gets hit do to simulate a new gear hitting the cut.

The first tests in Spain and abroad were convincing. IN I am the Motor In their contact they highlight that “with the simulated sound you feel as if you are in a sports car, the gears shift with a push as if it were really a dual clutch, and the steering is quick and precise.”

As for the sound, Hyundai has three modes: gasoline, electric and supersonic. IN Autobuild They emphasize that “although they are all “fake” (artificially generated and reproduced through the speakers), we assure you that they are convincing and turn on,” and the gear changes make it clear that “the strong shock that occurs when changing gears at maximum acceleration is also very believable, for example, when the clutch is depressed.” engaged.”

Even in Autobuild It is explained that “in the Ignition mode, the car simulates the sound of a sports internal combustion engine. The rev counter thus reaches 7500 rpm with injection switched off. turned on (yes, the car stops pushing, as it would on a gasoline car). And when you release the gas pedal above 3500 rpm, the exhaust backfires.”

Hyundai also received good reviews outside of Spain. IN Top gear They rate the simulated gear shift as “pretty fun.” “My more cynical nature wanted to laugh at the Ioniq 5 N and its disguised gearbox. I wanted to say that this is stupid, sad and a waste of time. But to be honest, I liked it. I was impressed. It’s there if you want it. If not, select one of the quiet driving modes.”

Of course, Ollie Q, who wrote this, also makes it clear that part of what will work depends on the intention you put into it. “It’s like being reluctant to go see a movie. If you expect to hate Barbie, you will hate Barbie. If you go in with an open mind, you might surprise yourself. (…) Some will hate this. Some will say that everything is wrong with this car, what fake news with four wheels. And you have the right to have such an opinion. Don’t buy the Ioniq 5 N. Or do it and turn off the sound.”

But above all, Q warns: “This won’t be the last electric car to play this game.”

Image | Hyundai

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