Porsche could be exploring a new way to bring the feel of a manual gearbox to future sports cars without relying entirely on a traditional transmission. A new patent filed with the European Patent Office points towards a system similar to those developed by Ferrari and Koenigsegg.
The concept is based around a dual-clutch transmission that can operate normally in automatic mode. The interesting part comes when the driver selects one of two manual modes.
The first allows the driver to change gears using paddles or a conventional shift lever, but without operating a clutch pedal. The system handles that part electronically while retaining the involvement of selecting each gear.
The second mode goes a step further. It adds a clutch pedal, allowing the driver to shift through the gears using a traditional manual-style setup.
Since it’s a patent, it isn’t certain that it will actually make it into a production car. For now, it remains an intriguing possibility.
Source: Car Buzz
