4 ms·

This seems so... American.

by p1necone 6y ago

CamperBob2 6y ago
You'd think so, but BMW did it first, as far as I'm aware. Anyone know of an earlier system?
- detaro 6y ago
  VW also did it quite early in the Golf GTI, but I think that is around the same time (2011?), although not with recordings but actual engine noise, or so they claimed.
  - p1necone 6y ago
    You could argue that being able to hear the actual engine noise more clearly does have some practical benefits especially with a manual transmission, although only really if you're driving it around a track (or if it would be totally silent inside otherwise).
  - raxxorrax 6y ago
    I know the E-Golf does generate sound to warn pedestrians. Most modern upper class cars have noise cancelation by now. It is ridiculously silent in some of them.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- adrianmonk 6y ago
  This 2012 article seems to be a good overview: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15117726/faking-it-engine-sound-enhancement-explained-tech-dept/ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15117726/faking-it-en... At that time, Porsche, VW, BMW, Ford, and Lexus had various types of system to enhance engine noise. It seems Porsche and Ford channeled the real sound through mechanically. VW started off doing that but then switched to an electronic system called Soundaktor. Lexus hired Yamaha to do an electronic system. BMW did it electronically. Things may have changed since then. The article makes it sound like Lexus did it before BMW. And probably VW too, although that's less clear.
  - _ah 6y ago
    My 2004 BMW did this mechanically: there was a tube connecting the passenger compartment with the air intake to pipe in that sweet engine noise. (There was a membrane inside to prevent actual airflow). Interestingly, the sound was actually too loud, so they stuffed some foam blocks in the resonator pipe to deaden the sound. But if you really wanted extra noise just remove the foam!
bigbubba 6y ago
It's very Disney Land. A superficial facade you're not meant to look behind.
m463 6y ago
I drove a mustang recently and it shone a mustang logo on the ground when you opened the door. To me american would be to actually have a v8. (like italian would be a 12). But honestly this really reminds me of shitty pro-look electronics. Like crappy RGB car stereos in every corner of the world, or old style "fake stack" home audio system with a loudness button and permanently wired plastic speakers with 22 gauge wire.

This seems so... American.

CamperBob2 6y ago

You'd think so, but BMW did it first, as far as I'm aware. Anyone know of an earlier system?

detaro 6y ago
VW also did it quite early in the Golf GTI, but I think that is around the same time (2011?), although not with recordings but actual engine noise, or so they claimed.
- p1necone 6y ago
  You could argue that being able to hear the actual engine noise more clearly does have some practical benefits especially with a manual transmission, although only really if you're driving it around a track (or if it would be totally silent inside otherwise).
- raxxorrax 6y ago
  I know the E-Golf does generate sound to warn pedestrians. Most modern upper class cars have noise cancelation by now. It is ridiculously silent in some of them.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
adrianmonk 6y ago
This 2012 article seems to be a good overview: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15117726/faking-it-engine-sound-enhancement-explained-tech-dept/ https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15117726/faking-it-en... At that time, Porsche, VW, BMW, Ford, and Lexus had various types of system to enhance engine noise. It seems Porsche and Ford channeled the real sound through mechanically. VW started off doing that but then switched to an electronic system called Soundaktor. Lexus hired Yamaha to do an electronic system. BMW did it electronically. Things may have changed since then. The article makes it sound like Lexus did it before BMW. And probably VW too, although that's less clear.
- _ah 6y ago
  My 2004 BMW did this mechanically: there was a tube connecting the passenger compartment with the air intake to pipe in that sweet engine noise. (There was a membrane inside to prevent actual airflow). Interestingly, the sound was actually too loud, so they stuffed some foam blocks in the resonator pipe to deaden the sound. But if you really wanted extra noise just remove the foam!

bigbubba 6y ago

It's very Disney Land. A superficial facade you're not meant to look behind.

m463 6y ago

I drove a mustang recently and it shone a mustang logo on the ground when you opened the door. To me american would be to actually have a v8. (like italian would be a 12). But honestly this really reminds me of shitty pro-look electronics. Like crappy RGB car stereos in every corner of the world, or old style "fake stack" home audio system with a loudness button and permanently wired plastic speakers with 22 gauge wire.