There are many arguments you can level against electric vehicles, including that they’re still too expensive, don’t have sufficient range, the long charging times (unless you have a home charger), and the restrictions when traveling long distances. On the emotional side, gearheads complain about the lack of a pleasant soundtrack, and we completely understand why. We’ve had more than 100 years of roaring internal combustion engines, ranging from the howl of a Ferrari V12 to the anger of the 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT Veloce’s naturally-aspirated four-cylinder.
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Automakers know that sound plays a valuable role in how a car feels. The Porsche 911 GT3 is arguably the best sports car in the world, but would it retain its crown if you removed the howl the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six produces at 9,000 rpm? We don’t think so. That’s why manufacturers are hard at work, developing interesting ways to get around this obvious issue. Most electric vehicles currently on sale produce generic sounds inside and outside because that’s what the Feds want, but here’s a list of 5 automakers doing the most to make EVs sound as good as they perform.
5
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Fakes It In The Best Possible Way
The inclusion of the recently released Hyundai Ioniq 5 N on this list shouldn’t come as a surprise. Hyundai spent a lot of time and money on making the first all-electric N product feel like an ICE-powered car, and it hit the target beautifully.
The car is equipped with 10 interior and 2 exterior speakers that are utilized to simulate the sound of an internal combustion engine both inside and out, giving drivers a thrilling experience and pedestrians a means of hearing the otherwise silent vehicle. Several sound profiles are made available, including a “Supersonic” mode which Hyundai says is inspired by fighter jets and a four-cylinder turbocharged soundtrack inspired by the Elantra N.
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The Ioniq 5 N also has a virtual gearbox that mimics an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which works flawlessly with the synthetic exhaust sound system. As the car accelerates, the artificial sound will peak and valley like a traditional engine. Keen drivers will be happy to hear that they can redline the vehicle, and that “downshifts” via the car’s paddles will actually over-rev the engine if current speed exceeds the “gear” the car is in at the time.
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Abarth 500e Mimics A 695 With An Optional Exhaust
For those wanting something smaller than the Ioniq 5 N, the Abarth 500e is a decent alternative. The 500e utilizes a waterproof speaker underneath the rear of the vehicle, which makes an outward sound modeled on the Record Monza exhaust option for the Abarth 695. Whether in motion or at a standstill, the 500e’s sound rises and falls in pitch and intensity according to accelerator or brake pedal inputs, providing a snappy response which feels as true to a traditional hot hatch as one can reasonably expect.
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There is one major drawback, however. For some reason, the sound is only played through an exterior speaker and is not available inside the car. While the overall size of the vehicle means the driver and passengers can still enjoy the synthetic exhaust note from within, it’s a somewhat questionable decision to give owners no option whatsoever to pipe the sound into the cabin, too. Let’s hope this is something Abarth will add via over-the-air updates.
3
Porsche Taycan Sounds Like A Sporty UFO
The Porsche Taycan has an available option which has consumers and experts in euphoria. Seen below utilizing its launch control feature, the Porsche Taycan features a responsive and unique exhaust note which can at times sound like an internal combustion engine, a UFO, or both. It’s a unique approach to the sonic conundrum, and we like that it’s not based on an existing vehicle. Although the feature is optional, it’s one box which anyone splurging on the already high-priced vehicle will want to check.
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The exhaust note is created via the “Electric Sport Sound” feature, which plays a sound clip during acceleration while also adding a rumble to the electric motor’s whine. The sound adjusts for acceleration and deceleration, with some drivers even claiming it helps provide them with feedback about what the car is currently doing. Porsche has said its goal was to design an emotional sound, rather than an obtrusive one, which is tailored to the vehicle’s personality and status.
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The BMW iX M60 Has Oscar-Winning Soundscapes
Okay, so the BMW iX hasn’t won an Oscar, but the man behind its sounds has. For some manufacturers, their biggest reason for needing a high-quality synthetic exhaust sound was to begin integrating electric vehicles into their high-performance line of cars. Such is the case with BMW and their Motorsport division, known for its dulcet exhaust notes coming from massive, high-powered engines. It should come as no surprise that rather than trying to come up with a sound on their own, BMW went all out and enlisted Academy Award-winning cinematic composer Hans Zimmer to create the score for their electric fleet. This most notably includes the BMW iX M60, which brilliantly pairs Zimmer’s efforts with a responsive and exhilarating launch control system that lets his score shine.
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Zimmer said he worked hard to “humanize the technology” in BMW’s electric endeavors, aiming to soothe and relax drivers rather than frighten them with the power they now wield. In total, the vehicle offers four different sounds, all composed by Zimmer. However, the Expressive setting has emerged as a favorite among owners, with many going as far as to say it makes them feel like Batman driving an environmentally-focused rendition of the Batmobile. Considering it’s an EV which is being described in this way, it’s clear that BMW has struck gold with the help of Hans Zimmer.
1
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Has Uncanny Levels Of Imitation
Last, but certainly not least, the most impressive aspect of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT’s synthetic exhaust sound isn’t its mimicry of the Hellcat’s high-revs, but its subtle idle sound which is nearly indistinguishable from the Hellcat itself. Although both are certainly impressive, it’s the “idle” noise which has pedestrians asking to be pinched out of disbelief. It’s so realistic that the average consumer would have a hard time differentiating it from a true Hellcat, especially given the Daytona’s muscle-car aesthetic, which looks almost exactly like a traditional Charger body.
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This incredibly realistic exhaust note is achieved via a true-to-form exhaust system which is affixed to the car, called the Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system. Its one purpose on the Daytona is to mimic a V8’s sound, and it does so incredibly well. For starters, its audio output is measured at 126 decibels, the same head-turning volume a Hellcat can produce. However, in lieu of a gas-guzzling engine, the Fratzonic system achieves this via moving air through a speaker box with chambers, plenums, pipes, and an outlet exiting the rear of the vehicle. Although this concept car is certainly loud enough to wake the neighbors, the production car will have a silent mode.
