Simulated Engine Sounds: A Missed Opportunity

[Reign of Ravens]

Recently I was driving on the freeway when an ICE Mustang went roaring by me. For fun, I changed to their lane and followed behind them, listening to the roar of their engine. I've never been an engine sounds kind of guy; one of the major appeals of electric vehicles to me is the relative silence or futuristic hum, especially when you're accelerating or powering up a hill. (Nothing makes the car feel powerful like taking a steep uphill freeway and hearing the sounds of everyone else's engines revving up and straining as you silently pass them.) But I felt inspired to toggle the fake engine sounds option, to see what Ford made it sound like. I was mostly disappointed.

The impressive part was the way the sounds seemed to match pretty well with accelerator usage and what the car was doing.

The disappointment came in the actual sound. It was incredibly quiet. In fact, at first I thought that maybe the setting was broken. I use Apple CarPlay and my volume is usually anywhere from 5-7; maybe that explains it, although the music would drown it out anyway. Being able to adjust the sound volume would be one thing.

But another is... it's a synthetic sound, so why not let us choose how we want the engine to sound? Give us options like the sounds of a Shelby Cobra or the Ecoboost Mustang. Let the car also simulate idle engine sounds (perhaps as an option that can be toggled). And heck, why stop there? How about a jet engine sound, or even a rocket engine? Let us have some fun with it.

I turned the sounds off and haven't switched them on again since. Just curious if others would also appreciate having some more customizations around the synthesized engine sounds. Depending on how Ford coded it, though, I'm not sure if we can get it as a OTA upgrade even if Ford decided to do more with this.

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[SashaLondon]

I would pay for other sounds, precisely a tie-fighter sound.

 

[Logal727]

You actually hear the propulsion sounds better if you are playing music, cause it compensates for the music volume, of course unbridle is easiest to hear. I think they are a lot of fun and first thing I point out to first time riders.

 

[SnBGC]

Recently I was driving on the freeway when an ICE Mustang went roaring by me. For fun, I changed to their lane and followed behind them, listening to the roar of their engine. I've never been an engine sounds kind of guy; one of the major appeals of electric vehicles to me is the relative silence or futuristic hum, especially when you're accelerating or powering up a hill. (Nothing makes the car feel powerful like taking a steep uphill freeway and hearing the sounds of everyone else's engines revving up and straining as you silently pass them.) But I felt inspired to toggle the fake engine sounds option, to see what Ford made it sound like. I was mostly disappointed.

The impressive part was the way the sounds seemed to match pretty well with accelerator usage and what the car was doing.

The disappointment came in the actual sound. It was incredibly quiet. In fact, at first I thought that maybe the setting was broken. I use Apple CarPlay and my volume is usually anywhere from 5-7; maybe that explains it, although the music would drown it out anyway. Being able to adjust the sound volume would be one thing.

But another is... it's a synthetic sound, so why not let us choose how we want the engine to sound? Give us options like the sounds of a Shelby Cobra or the Ecoboost Mustang. Let the car also simulate idle engine sounds (perhaps as an option that can be toggled). And heck, why stop there? How about a jet engine sound, or even a rocket engine? Let us have some fun with it.

I turned the sounds off and haven't switched them on again since. Just curious if others would also appreciate having some more customizations around the synthesized engine sounds. Depending on how Ford coded it, though, I'm not sure if we can get it as a OTA upgrade even if Ford decided to do more with this.

Which driving mode were you in? The sound is different in each mode. More throaty and loudest in Unbridled and more subtle and softer in Engage. Not sure there is anything in Whisper but the setting isn't grayed out so I suppose it does something.

The ICE mustangs have been piping in some fake engine sounds into the cabin speakers for many years now. The current generation of engines sound horrible compared to earlier cars so Ford had to do something to make it sound better for the drivers. Everyone else outside the car has to suffer of course....especially when owners add aftermarket systems and the popping gets real obvious.

I had relatives in town for the holidays last week and they both are lifelong Ford people. They both loved the MME and the fake sound it makes. They chuckled and giggled all the way down the road as their butts were pressed back into the seats.

I think Ford did good on this. ?

 

[Logal727]

now. The current generation of engines sound horrible

Trust me, I know. Every ICE mustang that pulls up next to me and revs their engine on purpose doesn’t let me forget it

 

[Tampamike]

I like the propulsion sound the way it is. I always drive in unbridled and have the sound on. It’s subtle but noticeable, giving a nice audible feedback to throttle position. I don’t want any more noise on the outside. The Model T’s didn’t sound like a horse. The ICE Mustangs here in Florida are getting old. My buddy has the Bullet version and he doesn’t go anywhere without everyone hearing him.

 

[hbirring01]

The electric Ford Mustang Mach-E has an 'exhaust' system now. Here's why | Fox News

 

[sotek2345]

I played with it early on, but now mostly drive with it off. My wife leaves it on all the time.

As for modern mustang sounds, the GT350 and GT500 would very much like to differ on sounding well!

 

[sotek2345]

As far as the missed opportunity goes, I would love to see it as a "ringtone" situation where for a nominal fee you can download the sounds you want. I would gladly pay a few dollars for some Jetsons or Knight Rider sounds! Maybe even a star trek warp core!

 

[Chuck]

I would pay for other sounds, precisely a tie-fighter sound.

I'd pay for the Jetson's car sound.

 

[tesla2mme]

Trust me, I know. Every ICE mustang that pulls up next to me and revs their engine on purpose doesn’t let me forget it

You feel this way about the Coyote/Voodoo V8’s???

?

 

[RickMachE]

Laughing my butt off at this thread. There are so many threads on forums AGAINST fake engine noise it's not funny.

Me, I'd like to have the BORLA solution, for a low cost, and the ability to switch it on and off. There are local car rallys where it would be fun to not be totally silent as I fly by.

 

[DYohn]

I want mine to play the THX startup sound

 

[Logal727]

You feel this way about the Coyote/Voodoo V8’s???

?

It’s more about them trying to troll

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