I've only ever driven a petrol manual and a petrol automatic. Both very similar cars other than the manual was a 1,200, and the automatic was a 1L. I wildly prefer driving the manual one, granted most of my driving is in the country where it's fun to throw it about the gears a bit and there isn't tedius clutch control in traffic. I just find it a lot more fun, especially when rev matching etc, it just feels more rewarding to drive.

However, if I was driving an electric car, I wouldn't want it emulating a petrol manual, I'd want to try embrace it for what it is, and have fun with the faster acceleration instead of the gears. My main issues with current electric cars is they all seem to have massive bloody screens. To me this is the ideal interior for a car, its not to everyones taste but it provides actual physical gauges for everything I want, a screen small enough that it's not distracting, but big enough that it's useful for android auto, and I can't believe I have to say this but actual buttons I can click without taking my eyes off the road, feeling that the button has been clicked.

I always figured I'd have to give up my manual for an electric car at some point, even if it's fake I'd still prefer that to just driving an automatic. I don't really care about engine noise though

but i love my manual transmission car!
I think it's super weird that they would merge the two technologies, but I know plenty of Germans that feel way too uncomfortable driving a manual, so i could see this being a nice medium for at least a minute

I feel they are missing the point. Stickshift feels so good because you're mechanically connected to the car. Enthusiasts like cars not because numbers, because they have soul and personality. Combine the soul and personality with the direct analog connection with a car, it just feels right. Electric cars, while may be great for the day-to-day, I don't think will really sate enthusiasts. Adding in fake features just makes you even that much more disconnected with a car.

This just sounds plain stupid. I drive a manual, and I'm pretty sure I'll be able to tell when a "shift" is fake. They should rather focus on making the power band and throttle feel more responsive and predictable instead of this crap.

I get really annoyed by car journalists obsession with manuals. I’ve driven and owned manual cars in my life, and they are cool, but also inconvenient, annoying to drive in traffic, and now objectively slower and less efficient than a modern automatic.

Fun on a backroad is not a huge factor in buying a car for the vast majority of people. And even a person like me, that enjoys a spirited drive, I don’t want to deal with a manual the other 85% of the time.

I just want them to recognize that and stop putting manuals on a pedestal.

This kind thing, is pretty dumb as well.

Somewhat related: I'm leasing a 2023 Nissan Rogue, which has a CVT. But it also has paddle shifters! I've tried it a few times but it just feels weird.