"Manual Transmissions and Fake Engine Noises: Toyota's Unique Approach to Electric Cars"
Automakers are struggling to let go of the past and are cramming fake features into electric vehicles (EVs) to preserve the driving experience for car enthusiasts. Toyota is reportedly working on an EV prototype that mimics the feel of driving a manual transmission, complete with a gear shift that's not connected to anything and a floor-mounted speaker to pipe in fake engine noises. Dodge has been working on a symphony of fake engine sounds it hopes to include in its upcoming lineup of electric muscle cars. This speaks to a deep-seated anxiety in the auto industry about the approaching obsolescence of the internal combustion engine.