How many loud exhausts are phonie computer sounds broadcast through speakers? The expression ALL HAT AND NO CATTLE comes to mind
I don’t know about the popularity of the feature, but I think it’s kind of a silly thing the car makers came up with - augmenting the car’s own exhaust sig. with exhaust effects through the stereo speakers.
My biggest issue is with a trend I’ve noticed since late last year: Those exhaust add-ons that make the exhaust ear-splitting loud from miles away, and make a sound like the whole exhaust system is falling off the car!
VvvvoooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM - PUT - TA-TUT TUT PUTOOT Toot toot
Is that supposed to be a libido enhancer or what…
None of the exhaust noise on the outside of the car is fake, inside however, is another story. My last Mustang had a sound tube from the intake into the car. BMW has used engine sounds pumped through the stereo.
As far as modified exhausts… too many want to straight pipe - replace the muffler with just a pipe - to make it sound “better” because it is cheap. It just makes most cars sound like crap.
I ran my race car only once with no muffler. I could not hear my crew chief on the radio it was so loud in the car. Noisy for no increase in power. And these days, open pipes will not be quiet enough for the sound restrictions at most tracks.
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I’ve only heard of that for EVs.
BMW did that on their ICE cars!
From AI…
Fake engine noise, also known as Active Sound Design (ASD), is a feature in many modern BMWs. It uses speakers to simulate engine sounds inside the cabin. This is done to enhance the driving experience, especially in vehicles designed for quieter operation.
The turbo 4s did not sound as sweet as the inline 6 they replaced so they faked it. Also some owners like the engine sounds and others just wanted quiet with a BMW badge on the trunklid.
Ford did this on their F150s, too. Those Ecoboost V6s just didn’t produce “truck” sounds.
Hyundai did it on their EVs.
For what it’s worth… I’ve told both of my daughters to avoid any boys who have big, loud, “upgraded” truck or cars. They don’t need to have anything to do with a young man whose ego and self worth is tied to a vehicle, of all things. It’ll be more fragile than the can of cheap beer they drink at parties.
Along the same lines, I tend to think people who want to drive an EV with an “exhaust” sound might be a little confused. That Dodge Charger EV seemed interesting until they pumped in some kind of “exhaust” note into the interior. On an electric, non-combustion car. Truly bizarre.
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One of the many things that I like about my PHEV is its incredibly-quiet interior when I’m running in EV mode–which is at least 90% of the time. On the rare occasions when I run the gas engine, the engine/exhaust noise is not a sound that I welcome.
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Perhaps millions, however I have never driven a vehicle with “loud” artificial exhaust tones, most are only ambient sounds.
For the last twenty years people have been complaining about the natural engine sound they hear while driving a vehicle equipped with CVT. The engine speed changes very little while accelerating and creates a “drone” type sound. Active Sound Control will distract them.
The latest issue of Consumer Reports makes mention of the noisy Toyota engine in the Crown and Mazda CX-50.
Perhaps it is a human flaw, but probably the same reason manufactures didn’t market a hybrid Camaro or Challenger, nobody wants a muscle car that sounds like a Disney ride.
Can it be turned on and off?
Active Sound Control can be switched off. The natural engine sound of a CVT vehicle is something the driver will have to get used to.
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