Subaru is quietly working on a way to keep the joy of shifting gears alive in a future dominated by batteries and software. A new patent for a simulated manual transmission suggests the company wants to put a clutch pedal and H-pattern shifter into the very Cars that Need driver engagement the most, its upcoming hybrids and EVs. If it reaches production, this New Manual Transmission Could Put the tactile feel enthusiasts love into models that would otherwise be automatic only.
Instead of abandoning three-pedal driving, Subaru appears to be trying to repackage it for an electric era. The patent describes hardware that looks and feels like a traditional gearbox, but is actually a layer of software and actuators sitting on top of an electric powertrain. It is a Clutch Pedal that does not move any gears directly, yet could still give drivers the timing, rhythm and satisfaction of rowing their own.
The “clutch to nowhere” hiding in Subaru’s patent
The core of Subaru’s idea is a simulated manual that behaves like a real one from the driver’s seat, even though the drivetrain underneath is fully electronic. In filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for this system, the company outlines an H-pattern shifter and a clutch pedal that are not mechanically linked to a gearbox, a layout some observers have already nicknamed a Clutch To Nowhere. Instead of moving synchros and shafts, the driver’s inputs are read by sensors, then translated into torque requests and virtual “gears” inside the control software. A separate description of the same concept confirms that the patent describes the System as featuring both the H-pattern and clutch, while also allowing the car to revert to a conventional, non shifting mode at the press of a button, which would let less experienced drivers ignore the extra pedals and levers when they do not want the involvement.
Subaru’s simulated gearbox is not just a party trick, it is designed to change how the powertrain behaves depending on what the driver does with the shifter and clutch. One version of the filing, described under the heading A Clutch To Nowhere, explains that the company has filed with the Patent and Trademark Office for an entirely simulated manual that can sit on top of a hybrid or electric drive unit and still deliver the sensation of stalling, rev matching and upshifting, even though the underlying hardware never actually changes ratios. A second reference to the same patent notes that the System can be switched between the simulated manual and a conventional, non shifting mode, which would let Subaru tune one car to satisfy both enthusiasts and commuters using the same set of pedals and electronics in different ways through a separate Jan description of the same idea.
A “real” clutch pedal for electric Subarus
Where the patent gets more ambitious is in how it tries to make the pedal itself feel authentic. Subaru has also outlined EV technology that uses actuators and software to simulate the weight, bite point and vibration of a traditional clutch, so that the driver’s left foot experiences something close to a mechanical linkage even though the pedal is only talking to computers. In one summary of the design, Subaru patents EV technology that simulates a manual gearbox with clutch pedal sensation, with the System allowing seamless switching between manual style operation and a fully automatic mode, which would let the same electric car behave like a conventional EV in traffic and a driver’s car on a back road through a separate System.
The same patent language is clear that Subaru sees this as more than a one off experiment. Another description of the filing notes that Subaru patents EV technology simulating a manual gearbox with clutch pedal sensation and again stresses that the System allows seamless switching between manual and automatic behavior, which is crucial if the company wants to sell the idea for potential mass production rather than as a niche toy. A further breakdown of the Key Points repeats that Subaru is the one pursuing this approach and that the System is designed from the outset to be compatible with volume models, not just halo cars, which suggests the brand is at least exploring how to put a real clutch pedal feel into an electric car that might sit alongside today’s WRX and BRZ in showrooms through a separate Jan summary of the same System.
From my perspective, that dual personality is the real breakthrough. A third explanation of the patent again highlights the Key Points that Subaru is building a System that can mimic a manual gearbox with a clutch pedal sensation while still letting the driver hand control back to the computer instantly, which is the only way a feature like this survives in a market where most buyers have never driven stick. By treating the clutch as a layer of software on top of an electric drive unit, Subaru can tune the experience for different Cars that Need more or less involvement, and potentially roll it out across a range of future hybrids and EVs if the idea proves viable in testing through another Subaru description of the same approach.
How it fits alongside today’s WRX and BRZ
Subaru is not starting from zero when it comes to engaging transmissions, its current performance lineup is already built around three pedals. The 2026 Subaru WRX will be offered in six trim levels, listed as Base, Premium, Limited, GT, tS and Series.Yellow, and a 6 speed manual transmission remains available alongside the brand’s automatic options, which keeps the rally inspired sedan aligned with enthusiast expectations. Inside, every 2026 Subaru WRX is equipped with an Subaru WRX specific suite of driver aids and infotainment, which shows that the company is already comfortable blending analog controls with digital tech in the same cockpit.
The cabin tech underscores that point even more clearly. Inside, every 2026 Subaru WRX is equipped with an 11.6-inch Subaru Multimedia Plus System with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a combination that pairs a traditional shifter with a large touchscreen and smartphone mirroring. On the coupe side, the 2026 BRZ gives you all the classic fun and crisp control of a proper 3 pedal, 6 speed manual transmission with close ratios and a standard short throw shifter, which makes the BRZ a natural benchmark for any simulated manual Subaru develops for its future EVs through the official BRZ feature list.
There is also a clear intent to keep the WRX nameplate engaging even as it gains more drive modes and electronic helpers. The 2025 Subaru WRX is described as a top choice for those looking for a stylish, comfortable and fun to drive vehicle, with the standard all wheel drive layout and the new WRX tS variant emphasizing performance, which shows how Subaru WRX models are already using software to shape the driving experience through selectable settings. A separate breakdown of the 2026 sedan confirms that the Subaru WRX will be offered in six trim levels, including Base, Premium, Limited, GT, tS and Series Yellow, and that a 6 speed manual transmission remains part of the lineup, which makes it easier to imagine a future where a simulated manual sits alongside a traditional one in the same showroom through the official Subaru WRX announcement and a dealer level overview of the drive modes.
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