There’s already a lot to say about Ferrari’s new “manual” transmission on the Internet, so we won’t beat a dead horse (pun intended). But a few weeks ago Ferrari introduced its shift-by-wire technology on the 12Cilindri (To be exact, April 15th), another company quietly revealed its take on a simulated manual.
You probably know Rezvani Motors for its luxurious supercars and amazing armored SUVs like the Beast, Fortress and Tank. Now, the California-based company has developed a system that takes a different approach to recreating the experience of a manual transmission.
We spoke to CEO Ferris Rezvani to find out how it works.
meet quick shift
Rezvani ‘Quick Shift’ manual transmission
Photo by: Rezvani
Rezvani calls its simulated manual gearbox “Quick Shift”. Developed with Italy’s Studio Carrozzi, this setup is currently available for the Ferrari 458, 488 and of course the 12Cilindri. The company also plans to expand the technology to select Lamborghini models and the Corvette ZR1 in the future.
However, unlike Ferrari’s “manual”, Quick Shift does not allow you to switch between automatic and manual modes. Once it’s there, it’s not “manual” or anything. That said, buyers can decide to keep their paddle shifters and use them if they prefer.
Like Ferrari’s system, Quick Shift has no physical connection between the shifter and transmission. The gear lever is fully electronic, communicating with the car’s ECU, working (over?) with the factory dual-clutch gearbox.
There is also no clutch pedal, so stopping is not possible. Still, Rezvani says missing the third paddle doesn’t detract from the experience. talking to motor1CEO Ferris Rezvani tells us:
‘The shifts are quick and precise… I was worried without the clutch it wouldn’t feel like a manual. To my surprise, it seemed more fun.’
Rezvani also says that the transmission will not automatically upshift at redline. For example, press the Ferrari 488’s 8,000-rpm rev limiter and it will happily chug along until you grab the next gear yourself. However, since the system cannot stop, it will automatically shift to first gear when required.
Here’s a quick video of the shifter in action:
The clever technology behind it
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Quick Shift is that the position of the shifter does not actually match the gear being used by the transmission. For example, you can start from a stop by placing the lever in fourth “gear”.
Behind the scenes, the dual-clutch transmission selects the appropriate gear for the car’s speed. When you move the lever, the software simply tells the transmission to shift up or down from whatever gear it is currently using.
As Rezvani explains:
‘Basically each gear has its own ID in the computer, so we’re able to tell the computer which gear to go into. So there is no need to sort it.
Photo by: Rezvani
A reversible upgrade—at a price
Rezvani says Quick Shift protects all of the car’s factory safety systems and electronics. And because there’s no clutch pedal or mechanical linkage, installation doesn’t require the kind of extensive modifications that a true manual conversion would.
If you decide the novelty has worn off, the company can even remove the system and return the car to factory specification without any major mechanical work.
Of course, none of this is cheap. Rezvani charges $25,000 for the quick shift conversion, which does not include the donor car. At least it’s more affordable than the $675,000 price tag of Ferrari’s 12cylinder manual.
Motor1’s Opinion: Simulated manuals are becoming more popular, and more buyers are interested in driving their own gear. Rezvani’s simulated manual is an interesting alternative to what Ferrari and Koenigsegg offer.
