Featuring a powertrain with synthetic sound reminiscent of a porpoise, Lexus draws inspiration from Hyundai’s playbook by infusing analogue excitement into an electric vehicle’s otherwise unremarkable drive.
The
Lexus RZ
This marks the brand’s inaugural fully electric vehicle—a sleek, sloping crossover that draws aesthetic cues from the previous Lexus CT hatchback. For Lexus, this represents a significant move into the market with an attractive rival model; however, amidst the flurry of promotional content surrounding its release, one crucial detail about the RZ was somewhat overshadowed: This new offering will feature artificial gear changes along with synthetic engine sounds, aligning itself with unconventional practices initiated by manufacturers like Hyundai and even luxury carmaker Ferrari.
Lexus refers to its simulation system as the “Interactive Manual Drive,” designed to facilitate a richer and more interactive conversation between driver and vehicle. Sure thing.
In IMD mode, the RZ adapts to its driver’s actions by considering both the accelerator pedal’s position along with data from the vehicle’s simulated energy provider and digital gearbox, ensuring efficient power delivery to the wheels.
Next, the ECU determines the amount of power it believes you desire and how you wish for that power to be provided, then… transmits
that
level of power delivered to the wheels.
An indicator on the dashboard functions similarly to a tachometer, displaying optimal shifting points across a simulated rev range. The RZ mimics an eight-speed gearbox by briefly interrupting power delivery to mimic gear changes, then progressing upwards through this digital gauge. It also features an auto mode that continues these simulations, alongside steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters capable of engaging with this virtual gearing system.
The so-called Interactive Manual Drive Sound from Lexus is described as “the exclusive sound” associated with this Lexus IMD system. In the demonstration video, it closely resembles a person whistling combined with somewhat mechanical tones. However, it also bears similarities to the cry of a distressed marine animal.
This stands in sharp contrast to Hyundai’s setup integrated into the IONIQ 5N, where you have the option to modify the artificial engine sounds to mimic those of a
Tron
bicycle or even a real fighter jet.
That being said, we’re pleased that additional companies are attempting to reintroduce certain analogue aspects into the electric vehicle driving experience, even if these elements are digitally simulated. Although Lexus’s approach appears somewhat disappointing (we will withhold our ultimate assessment until we’ve had a chance to test-drive the RZ), it’s preferable to have them at all.
something
To alert our central nervous system about the velocity and orientation of the drivetrain, even when it’s simulated.
Hyundai has already demonstrated the idea, and quite convincingly too. For Lexus to bring the RZ up to speed, our suggestion would be to provide us with an LFA DLC that transforms the RZ crossover into sounding like a V-10 powerhouse, shifting as abruptly and forcefully as an automated manual transmission equipped with straight-cut gears.
That’s a virtual engine setup we can support.