A new generation of the Lexus LFA supercar is in the works for an anticipated launch in 2027, though this time minus the original’s thrilling V10 soundtrack. The new LFA will be an electric vehicle, and while that should ensure it’s plenty quick, that’s true for pretty much every high-powered electric. Instead, Lexus could take a leaf out of Hyundai’s playbook to make the car more memorable.
A newly discovered patent application filed by Toyota outlines a system for simulated gearshifts in an EV. While the idea itself is nothing new, with Hyundai using it to great effect in the Ioniq 5 N, Toyota’s system adds a new aspect that makes things more like a true sequential manual.
How Lexus Could Amp Up The Fun
Lexus LFA Concept ExteriorLexus
Electric vehicles don’t need multi-gear transmissions like their internal-combustion counterparts, due to their motors’ instant torque delivery. But shifting gears and feeling the resulting jolt is one of the most satisfying parts of driving a performance car. Hyundai was among the first automakers to replicate that experience in an EV with the Ioniq 5 N, which introduced a software feature called N e-shift. Paired with simulated engine sounds, the system is genuinely fun to use, even if it still feels a little gimmicky.
Toyota hasn’t shied away from the fact that it’s got a simulated shift system for EVs, but previous iterations shown off to the public have revealed it’s an actual simulated manual, with three pedals and a gated shifter. Now, however, the brand may be reconsidering some of these elements, specifically the third pedal.
A patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and discovered by CarBuzz this week describes a system that simulates gear changes by adjusting the electric motor’s torque over a set period. Like Hyundai’s N e-shift, Toyota’s system would let the driver select virtual gears, but it would also control how torque rises and falls during a shift to deliver a sensation more akin to that of a sequential manual transmission in a race car. The diagram below shows how the torque could be shaped for each gear and compares it with the regular torque profile of an EV’s motor.
Diagram From Toyota Patent For Simulated Gearshifts In An EVToyota/USPTO
During a shift, the system could also briefly cut motor torque to zero, mimicking the momentary interruption in power that occurs when a driver disengages a clutch. It would then restore torque, potentially overshooting the target briefly to recreate the feel of a clutch re-engaging. The controller can apply this sequence to both upshifts and downshifts, with the timing and intensity determining how each shift feels. The patent says the system could also be tailored for different driving modes, for example using a more aggressive profile in a sport or race mode.
What Happened To Toyota’s EVs With A Clutch Pedal?
2026 Toyota GR86 manual three pedals transmission gearboxToyota
You may recall that Toyota a few years back was testing a simulated manual for EVs that included a clutch pedal. The system was developed by Toyota’s Gazoo Racing performance skunkworks and was so realistic it would enable the car to roll back on hills or even stall. Well, the patent explains Toyota’s reluctance to go forward with that idea.
The patent notes that operating a clutch can be troublesome for drivers accustomed to automatics, and that most EV buyers will probably have had little to no experience with a real manual. The patent also notes that eliminating the clutch pedal allows for quicker shifts (via paddles or a shift lever) and better mimics a race car’s sequential gearbox. There’s also a potential safety concern with making EVs ‘stallable’, as drivers with no experience using a manual transmission could find themselves behind the wheel of a car that could suddenly lose power.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Lexus LFA Concept ExteriorLexus
Lexus has already hinted that it wants some form of simulated shifting in the new LFA. The concept, first shown in late 2025, featured paddles behind the steering wheel marked with plus and minus symbols. Those paddles could control regenerative braking, as they do in some EVs, but a system like the one Toyota has patented would give them a more engaging purpose.
If you love the LFA but the idea of simulated gearshifts in an EV is anathema to you, don’t worry. Toyota has you covered with the GR GT supercar, which pairs a combustion engine with a genuine eight-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters.
Sources: USPTO
