Porsche is preparing to introduce simulated gearshift functionality in its future electric vehicles, with the next-generation Taycan expected to debut the so-called “virtual transmission” when the model launches toward the end of 2026, automotive outlet The Drive reported.
According to the report, Porsche briefed dealer managers on the upcoming feature during a conference in Atlanta in November, with sales teams instructed to prepare for the arrival of new electric models featuring the virtual gearbox in the second half of 2026. August was cited as a tentative start for order intake.
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Porsche declined to comment directly on the report when contacted by The Drive, but did not explicitly deny the information. Interest in the development has increased in recent weeks following public remarks by Frank Moser, head of series for Porsche’s two-door models, the 718 and 911, who discussed his firsthand experience with Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N and its virtual gearshift system.
“It was eye-opening,” Moser told The Drive. “I remember I drove it with Andy (Andreas) Preuninger, he’s my Mr GT [Project Manager, GT Vehicles]. I said to him, ‘Come on, I’m going to pick you up in the Ioniq 5 N’. He said, ‘Leave me alone, I don’t want any of that electric stuff.’ We entered the car and I pressed the button [N Grin Boost], and he was ‘Wow’. They did something which was impressive.”
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Moser added that such performance-oriented features should remain optional, suggesting that any simulated gearshift system at Porsche would likely be user-selectable. “Every driver should be able to decide for themselves when to use these sporty features and when to drive silently,” he said in the interview. Porsche has previously introduced artificial engine sound effects on its electric Cayenne, signaling a broader interest in enhancing emotional feedback in electric vehicles.
Despite earlier expectations that the fully electric 718 models could debut Porsche’s virtual gearshift system, the Taycan is now expected to take precedence internally for its introduction. The feature is anticipated to be offered exclusively on newly built Taycan models, rather than through over-the-air updates for existing vehicles.
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While the virtual transmission does not require mechanical changes to the electric powertrain, modifications to the steering wheel are expected. The current Taycan does not feature paddle shifters, which are typically used to control simulated gear changes and energy recuperation in systems such as Hyundai’s.