Ford Patents Manual Transmission with No Clutch Pedal

A Ford Global Technologies patent was discovered by Muscle Cars & Trucks, showcasing a new kind of manual transmission system that could make its way into Ford vehicles like the Mustang. The patent, granted in November 2021, describes a transmission with a stick that the driver would move through shift gates manually, just as you would in a traditional manual transmission. However, the main difference is that unlike a traditional manual transmission Ford’s new transmission would have an electric clutch and, therefore, no need for a clutch pedal.

The patent describes a system that would use a sensor to detect when the driver grasps the shift lever and begins to move through the gates, automatically activating the electronic clutch a fraction of a second before they move the shifter then releasing it once the gear has changed and shifter has been released.

Essentially the driver would be able to move through all gears without needing to step on the third pedal. We could also assume the transmission would have automatic rev-matching, which is a feature on many standard manual transmissions today. If it were to go into production, such a transmission option could be viable for the Mustang and the F-150 and Bronco, providing drivers with a similar level of engagement to a traditional manual, minus the challenges of modulating the clutch pedal and perfecting the heel-toe maneuver.

You can read the full patent abstract below:

[via Muscle Cars & Trucks]