Simulated manuals are still a relatively fresh concept, but we’re hearing more and more about them with each passing day. The latest example of this tech in action is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, which uses a complex mechanism to mimic manual gear changes via a gated shifter. And although it’s not universally loved, the Italian supercar does serve as an interesting case study into the stick’s potential future.
And Porsche seems to be heading down a similar path, having filed multiple patents for a similar setup in recent years. We’ve already covered two of those here at CarBuzz, and a third one has just been published by the European Patent Office a couple of days ago. So, by the looks of it, Porsche is very serious about creating a fake manual of its own.
Evidence Of Porsche’s Tech Keeps Emerging
Porsche Mission S transmission shift lever design sketchPorsche
We first got wind of Porsche’s plans thanks to a patent published back in March, before the 12Cilindri Manuale was even released. The second one followed in September, and technical sketches of the upcoming Mission S supercar point to the same faux-manual technology. Now, compare those to the company’s new patent drawings, and the similarities are impossible to miss.
But the German brand isn’t looking to just copy Ferrari’s homework and call it a day; the idea is to also refine the technology for an improved user experience and less mechanical complexity. And the solution has to do with the actuator connected to the shift lever, which is what makes Porsche’s patent so interesting.
Will Stuttgart’s Ingenuity Top Maranello’s?
Porsche simulated manual patent drawingEuropean Patent Office
The description points to the potential use of magnetorheological actuators – devices that employ magnetic fields and charged fluids to alter their mechanical properties. Compared to Ferrari’s solenoid-type arrangement and its predefined resistance curves, this could unlock a whole new level of adaptability to simulate shifts in a more authentic way.
It could take variables such as the transmission’s temperature into account, for instance, actively increasing the likelihood of rough shifts when the gearbox is cold. However, the patent’s description only mentions these magnetorheological modules as a preferred solution, so it wouldn’t necessarily be the one that Porsche decides to implement. That being said, all the clues we now have are pointing to one important conclusion.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Of course, there’s a difference between a patent being filed and the company actually implementing said technology in the real world. But Porsche might just be determined to see it through to the end, as three different patents along with detailed design sketches would certainly suggest. On its quest to bring about the “remanualization of cars,” this would be a major step forward.
And as much as purists like to call this sort of tech a mere gimmick, we’ll take a simulated manual over no manual any day of the week. At this point, there are glaring signs pointing to the Mission S potentially getting this technology, especially with Porsche having confirmed that its next flagship supercar is manual-compatible. Perhaps it’s just not the kind of manual you were expecting.
Patent filings do not guarantee the use of such technology in future vehicles and are often used exclusively as a means of protecting intellectual property. Such a filing cannot be construed as confirmation of production intent.
Source: European Patent Office