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Audi Gives Silent Electric Car Synthetic Sound

itwbennett writes "Audi's electric cars are quiet, maybe too quiet, which is why Audi spent 3 years creating replicated engine noise for its electric car models. We're so conditioned to the noise of an engine revving that a driver behind the wheel of a too-quiet car may not realize how fast he's driving, and a pedestrian relying on auditory clues may be unaware of an approaching vehicle, says Ralf Kunkel, Head of Audi Acoustics." Nissan's been on this for years (as has Honda); one day, you may only get to choose which noise your car makes, rather than whether it does.

12 of 402 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How cool. by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

    Nyan Cat.

    Nothing else says "get out of my way' like that would.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  2. Re:any sound in the world.... by Nidi62 · · Score: 4, Funny

    and they chose car noise. How uninspiring.

    Personally, I love the sound of my V8 revving up. But I also hate how much it costs to do that :)

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  3. This is wonderful by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally men can spend their entire lives going "Vroom! Vroom!" behind the wheel, instead of being forced to stop at the tender age of 11.

    --

    People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
  4. My suggestion: by newcastlejon · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Jetsons.

    If I ever get to choose my own sound, it will be this.

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  5. Re:How cool. by PessimysticRaven · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Rickrolling while revving at a redlight occurs.

    --
    Consistency is only a virtue if you're not a screw-up.
  6. Re:How cool. by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Funny

    Jetson's car.

    FTW.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  7. Bubba Rub? by imag0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bubba Rub was a visionary

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnzw_i4YmKk

    Reporter: Can you tell me about the whistles?
    Bubb Rubb: The whistles go WOO-- You wanna WOO WOO--
    Reporter: Some neighbors are saying it’s “way too loud.”
    Bubb Rubb: That’s only in the mowrning. He’s supposed to be up cooking breakfast or something, so it’s like an alarm clock!

  8. Re:any sound in the world.... by Sechr+Nibw · · Score: 5, Funny

    They wanted something death people would perceive as a car.

    I think you meant to type "deaf people". And I think you meant to mean to type "blind people". Y'know, the ones that would get clues about their surroundings by listening to the new artificial sounds for silent-running cars?

  9. Re:How cool. by Medievalist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, George Jetson's car would be the best, but second best would be the buzz-saw noise that the old Flash Gordon spaceships made.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUbGkSfaKrs

    Hardly anyone would recognize it, but it that might make it even better!

  10. Re:The time is not spent on development by dgatwood · · Score: 3, Funny

    The overpriced luxury manufacturer brings people in and asks them to listen to 50 varieties of car noise to find the best one.

    The smart carmaker uses the sound of a moped by default and then sells hundreds of expansion packs with samples of different car engines so that the customers can choose their own favorites.

    The really smart carmaker rents the expansion packs with a monthly fee like ringtones.

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  11. Re:I take it by fredklein · · Score: 3, Funny

    There are these things called back-up lights....

  12. Coconut Shells by gregor-e · · Score: 4, Funny

    Coconut shells cloppity-clopping. Perhaps with a minstrel singing a ballad recounting the bravery of the driver.