Hyundai high-performance EV patent exposed

According to the latest report from May 2026, Hyundai has filed a new patent showing that future high-performance electric vehicles may not only feature simulated engine sounds but also include a physical clutch feel with a simulated manual transmission system.

The patent (US-12624755-B1) presents a novel shift-by-wire design logic aimed at providing drivers with an experience that combines the advantages of both transmission types. Its core lies in using software and electromechanical mechanisms to recreate a mechanical operating feel without any physical connection.

Mode	Technical Features
Automatic Mode	Offers standard Drive, Reverse, and Neutral positions
Manual Mode	Activates a simulated clutch, supporting gated manual operation and a neutral feel between gears
Hardware Connection	The gear shifter has no mechanical link to the powertrain; all gear changes are triggered by shift-by-wire signals

Hyundai is not the first to experiment with "electronic nostalgia"; top supercar manufacturers and traditional automakers have also begun developing similar technologies:

🔹 Koenigsegg: The LST transmission can offer both 9-speed automatic and 6-speed manual functions within the same mechanism.

 

🔹 Porsche: Has filed a patent for a gear selector that can freely switch between manual and automatic modes.