America’s best-selling cars and trucks are built on lies: The rise of fake engine noise

Washington Post ^ | January 21, 2015 | Drew Harwell

[Second Amendment First]

Stomp on the gas in a new Ford Mustang or F-150 and you’ll hear a meaty, throaty rumble — the same style roar that Americans have associated with auto power and performance for decades.

It’s a sham. The engine growl in some of America’s best-selling cars and trucks is actually a finely tuned bit of lip-syncing, boosted through special pipes or digitally faked altogether. And it’s driving car enthusiasts insane.

Fake engine noise has become one of the auto industry’s dirty little secrets, with automakers from BMW to Volkswagen turning to a sound-boosting bag of tricks. Without them, today’s more fuel-efficient engines would sound far quieter and, automakers worry, seemingly less powerful, potentially pushing buyers away.

Softer-sounding engines are actually a positive symbol of just how far engines and gas economy have progressed. But automakers say they resort to artifice because they understand a key car-buyer paradox: Drivers want all the force and fuel savings of a newer, better engine — but the classic sound of an old gas-guzzler.

“Enhanced” engine songs have become the signature of eerily quiet electrics like the Toyota Prius. But the fakery is now increasingly finding its way into even beefy trucks and muscle cars, long revered for their iconic growl.

For the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost, Ford sound engineers and developers worked on an “Active Noise Control” system that amplifies the engine’s purr through the car speakers. Afterwards, the automaker surveyed members of Mustang fan clubs on which processed “sound concepts” they most enjoyed.

[sheana]

We live in a neighborhood that is bordered by a Main Street. Our backyard faces it even though we are 2 houses away from it. You can hear the hum of traffic from our backyard but what we can really hear are sirens and Harley’s. Lol

[IYAS9YAS]

I had a 340 Dart Swinger with a six-pack. Loved that car... talk about a sleeper.

I knew better than to take on a 340 six-pack in my 327-powered Nova, unless I knew the guy didn't know how to drive it fast.

There was a guy in Tucson, AZ back in the 90s who had a 413 Max Wedge Polara that was painted black, with skinny tires that would light up just about anything that came around. That sucker was a sleeper, cuz he didn't have any badges, and had a really quiet exhaust.

[tacticalogic]

There was a guy in Tucson, AZ back in the 90s who had a 413 Max Wedge Polara that was painted black, with skinny tires that would light up just about anything that came around. That sucker was a sleeper, cuz he didn't have any badges, and had a really quiet exhaust.

Back in the '70s I drove a Gremlin X without the 'X' trim for awhile. That thing surprised a few people.

[moovova]

Just don’t pipe in any “knocking rod” or “piston slapping” sound.

[Second Amendment First]

Thanks. Very cool.
He said it wants to turn the car over not just propel it. So p factor is still present without a prop?

[Svartalfiar]

Been a subject of the automotive press for several years. Cadillac, Lexus, Porsche, VW. BMW, I think, pioneered just using the sound system (which can’t be turned off), which doesn’t involve messing with the engine mechanics at all. I believe they even put a speaker in the engine compartment.

Yup, my buddy leased a new VW Golf GTI a year or two ago. Found out they had a mic in the engine that fed into little speakers in the cabin (think they were even separate from the main speaker system). Retarded. He pulled them as soon as he figured out why it sounded so odd.

[logi_cal869]

Now THAT’s funny.

[taildragger]

This author has not heard the new GT350 and GT350R with the flat plain crankshaft, I have been blessed to hear it just briefly a week or so ago. It sound is real and sounds more like a Open Wheel Modified on Steroids than a Production Street Car...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Enhancing existing engine roar with pipes is one thing, running fake sounds through the speakers is gay.

Yah...gotta agree. But...ain't technology wunnerful?

[US_MilitaryRules]

The least you could do is post pics! lol

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I went to high school with a guy who could make his truck backfire anytime he wanted.

My little sister trained as a farrier. She had a nice '72 F150 with Cherry Bombs and an anvil in the back. It was loud. She could do the same thing.

I drove it through downtown (hometown) one morning and chomped on the gas and though keeping it under the speed limit, I made quite the racket. Got pulled over by a fat cop (who was a senior HS classmate of mine in years past) who didn't bother to ask for license and registration but stated "You like it loud dontcha?"

I said, "Yeah Keith. You fat f***. Was I speeding?"

He didn't bother to try to issue me a citation. He just walked away.

I knew I 'owned' him because I whipped his arse when we wrestled for the top heavyweight spot in High School so I knew he'd back down. What a wuss. What a memory. Gotta love them Cherry Bombs.

[jttpwalsh]

Great way to make some spending money

---

I’ll say. Maybe I can look them up, and see if they’ll have me!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Aw man! What memories! Nothing like Old School under dash stereo. I helped my best friend outfit his Datsun B210 with an FM Converter and an 8 Track player. 6x9s in the back deck and 4" rounds in the two front doors. That was one sweet ride for 1978. Chicks digged it and that was ALL that mattered.

[jttpwalsh]

what we can really hear are sirens

---

Oh yes, forgot to mention, they also built a Fire Station a few blocks away.

At least my homeowner’s insurance went down, because of it. I should check for a Harley discount ;)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Oh yeah...that I know. But technology has improved a lot. Back in the day there were few ways to go. Hell...it started with baseball cards (doubles ONLY) in the spokes with a clothespin.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Max's blower was a prop spun by an electric motor.

<Ahem...best Aussie accent>

"The laaast of the 460 Intaceptaahs!"

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Not sure. Cherry Bombs were a sort of interface between the manifold and straight pipes. Ostensibly a muffler but not as functional as a muffler. More of a 'suppressor' for cars.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

But using the car’s stereo system to simulate the sound is new.

Indeed. Point is...technology has improved.

[roamer_1]

Sorry... no sale. I know my chevy pickup is perfectly tuned when it sets off car alarms just driving by. It isn’t really loud (legal pipes)... just has a whole lot of throat... You can’t imitate that sound without the power it takes to make it.

[Second Amendment First]

Yah...gotta agree. But...ain't technology wunnerful?

And also scary when virtual reality becomes a replacement for the real thing.