Consider sound for VW, Manual transmission and Evs

Manual transmission may not die in the electric age Volkswagen.

On Thursday, at the 2024 LA Auto Show, Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen's Head of Global Research and Development, told the Motor Authority that the automaker had tested a manual transmission for EVs.

However, the executive said he did not like a send. Grünitz said he liked the Ev's smoothness and lack of sound. He said it makes sense to stick to 1 gear.

But when asked if the manual would work for something like an electric GTI or a golf R, he replied, "This is an option", Hyundai Ioniq5N.

Grünitz believes that "GTI must create emotions", and for that "sound is necessary.""Again, notice how the Ioniq5N simulates both gear change and sound.

Grünitz ditched the idea of "GTI mode" for the EV iteration of the icon. Such modes, he said, could produce sounds and "other features" that "remind you of a sporty vehicle."

Toyota has already patented a manual transmission for electric vehicles and it will be introduced to the successor of the electric Lexus LFA. GM is also working on clutches for electric vehicle transmissions.

Porsche, VW's sister brand, has considered simulated shifts, but sees them as making EVs worse.

Grünitz found it "interesting" to drive the Ioniq5N, but he said he didn't want to use it in everyday life. But if there is customer demand, "we will also provide sound," Grünitz said.

If the electric GTI of the future would make a sound, Grünitz said the carmaker would implement it in a different way than the modern, but he would not discuss how.

Electrical iterations of Golf, GTI, and Golf R are not scheduled until the next 10 years of the Scalable System Platform (SSP) architecture, Grünitz reaffirmed.