Skip to content For decades, drivers have relied on a largely standardized gear layout that became second nature to anyone behind the wheel. In manual cars, numbered gears indicated forward motion, accompanied by an “R” for reverse, forming a familiar pattern repeated across countless makes and models. Automatic transmissions simplified the process further, typically presenting “P,” “N,” “D,” and “R” — shorthand for Park, Neutral, Drive, and Reverse — and occasionally an “L” for low gear when additional torque was required. Because these configurations were so consistent, motorists rarely needed to question their meaning. That is why the appearance of the letter “E” on certain older gear sticks recently sparked widespread curiosity.
