Toyota has built an EV with a fake transmission, and we’ve driven it

Enlarge / The Lexus UX300e is an electric crossover available in Europe, China, and Japan, but not usually with three pedals or a gear lever. (credit: Toyota)

Electric cars do a lot of things well. They’re smooth. They’re quiet. They’re easier on the environment, and they’re even scientifically proven to be less stressful. But what they don’t tend to be is engaging, at least not in the way that a traditional car with three pedals and a stick shift is.

A manual car requires a lot more of the driver. That level of forced engagement brings with it a sort of focus that can make the simple act of driving a lot more fun. In an ideal world, it would be possible to layer that kind of engagement on top of the otherwise ideal EV experience.

That is exactly what Toyota has done with what it calls the “Manual BEV concept.” Think of it as an EV that brings all the hands-on enjoyment of a manual transmission—despite lacking a manual transmission. It’s something of a testbed to find ways to bring more fundamental driver enjoyment to the next generation of battery-powered electric vehicles, and after running a few laps around Toyota’s test track in one, I’m convinced every sports-oriented EV in the future needs this.