In normal “D” (Drive) mode, transmissions balanced:
- Performance
- Acceleration
- Fuel efficiency
The engine would rev higher before shifting into the next gear.
But in “E” mode:
- The car shifted earlier
- RPM stayed lower
- Fuel consumption decreased slightly
Some vehicles even connected Economy mode to overdrive systems, allowing higher gears to engage more aggressively during highway cruising.
In certain cars, “E” appeared directly on the gear selector.
Others used separate:
- Economy buttons
- “Econ” switches
- Fuel-saving dashboard controls
By today’s standards, it wasn’t advanced —
but at the time, it was considered innovative technology.
Why Did the “E” Gear Disappear?
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the mysterious “E” slowly vanished from most vehicles.
The reason was simple:
technology improved.
Modern transmissions became electronically controlled.
Instead of drivers manually choosing Economy mode, onboard computers could automatically adjust:
- Shift timing
- Engine behavior
- Fuel efficiency
- Throttle response
At the same time:
-
- Fuel injection replaced older systems
- Overdrive became standard
- Engines became smarter
- Automatic transmissions improved dramatically
Eventually, the old “E” gear simply became unnecessary.
Ironically, Eco Mode Never Really Disappeared
The funny thing is:
the
idea behind the old “E” gear still exists everywhere today.
Modern vehicles now use:
- Eco Mode
- Smart throttle systems
- Adaptive transmissions
- Fuel-saving drive settings
The difference is that modern systems operate digitally instead of mechanically.
Pressing an Eco button today may automatically adjust:
- Transmission shifting
- Throttle sensitivity
- Air conditioning output
- Cruise control behavior
In hybrid and electric vehicles, Eco settings can even extend driving range significantly.
The old “E” gear may be gone —
but its philosophy survived.
