Porsche has given its all-electric Taycan a simulated eight-speed sequential manual gearbox dubbed ‘E-Shift’ as part of the latest round of updates.
E-Shift adds a rev counter to the Taycan’s digital driver display, and the “gears” are selected using the paddles on the GT sports steering wheel – a standard feature on the 1,094bhp Turbo GT model, and included with the optional Sport Chrono pack.
Porsche says that the E-Shift system simulates an engine braking similar to that on its combustion-engined cars, and adds “noticeable shift jerks” when a new gear is selected. The Taycan’s E-Shift gearbox feel and ‘engine’ note depend on trim level and power output. The E-Shift feature is activated by a blue switch on the steering wheel.
The E-Shift ‘box isn’t the only thing included with the Taycan’s latest updates. There is now an option of low-rolling resistance tyres for the base-spec, rear-wheel-drive car, which boosts range by 12 miles to 434 miles for the saloon. Meanwhile, the Sport Turismo shooting brake is now capable of 416 miles on a single charge.
Hyundai was the first manufacturer to introduce simulated gearboxes to an EV, starting with its Ioniq 5 N hyperhatch back in 2023. Several other carmakers have followed, including sister brands Kia and Genesis, along with Lexus, Honda, and now Porsche.
Moreover, the upcoming RallyX Americas series is the first pure-electric motorsport series to use simulated gearshifts in its FC1 cars.
Last year, Ford confirmed it had patented a simulated manual gearbox for its upcoming range of EVs, even announcing plans for a traditional H-gate shifter as well as a sequential system. As the Blue Oval seeks to reset its EV plans in the immediate future, the transmission could be incorporated into its upcoming motorsport-inspired models, which will include a new, Renault 5-based Fiesta, and a European-spec Ford Bronco.
Porsche has yet to say whether it will add the E-Shift system to the other EVs in its line-up, the Cayenne Electric and Macan Electric.
