More and more manufacturers are offering their electric cars sounds inspired by thermal models. This is particularly the case of Dodge, which has just reworked that of its future Charger to make it a little more authentic.
The electric car has many advantages, it is an undeniable fact. In addition to driving comfort due to absence of vibrations and instantaneous torque, silence is also one of the advantages of this engine. The latter could then contribute to making driving more pleasant, while a recent study carried out by DS Automobiles affirmed that driving in electric was less stressful than on board a thermal vehicle.
A new trend
While some might think that this silence would be dangerous, a study conducted by Ipsos in September 2022 points out that it would have been easy for 68% of electric car owners to circulate without surprising pedestrians. Especially since since 2021, they must all emit a sound in order to warn them when they are traveling at low speed, below 19 km / h.
Manufacturers have since competed in imagination to offer the most original sounds. We think in particular of Tesla, which even allowed you to customize the latter with chicken, goat and even wind blowing noises via Boombox mode. The electric Fiat 500 broadcasts an extract from “Amarcord“, excerpt from Fellini’s eponymous film.
But for some time, another trend is gradually emerging. Indeed, some manufacturers, and in particular those offering sports models, decide to offer a sound inspired by thermal cars. This is precisely the case of Dodge, which lifted the veil last August on its Charger Daytona SRT “Banshee” concept announcing the future of the American muscle car.
And this one particularly appealed to the public because of the sound that came from its “exhaust”. The latter then imitates that of a thermal car, digitized and modernized thanks to the system Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust. So, it can reach up to 126 dBbut we can’t really say that it pleased the purists, many of whom criticized the choice of the American manufacturer.
Numerama notes that the car then makes more noise than… the Concorde at take-off!
A slight update
If Dodge then claimed that the disappointing sound was notably linked to the sound quality of the cameras, he seems to have made some small changes all the same. It was therefore during the Chicago show, which closed its doors a few days ago, that Dodge unveiled a new version of its concept car.
Described by the brand as ” visceral dark matter“, the reworked sound still emits 126 dB, but seems to be a bit more serious than before. However, the conditions in which the car was exposed were not quite identical, and it is possible that they influence the sound emitted. You will then have to wait again until launch of the production version in 2024 to be able to hear this noise in real conditions, and thus be able to get a real idea.
According to a journalist present on the spot, relayed by the site Autoblogthe noise was so loud that it was felt ” to the chest“. Dodge is not the only manufacturer to offer a thermal car sound on an electric model. This is also the case with Abarth, which offers a similar system on its 500 electric. The trainer then asked his community to help him create the ideal sound.
According to Carscoops, Ferrari for its part patented a ” reproducing device for producing a sound which can be associated with an electric motor“. For this, the manufacturer would plan to amplify the noise from the latter so that it is louder. We will still have to wait before testing this technology, while the brand should not launch an electric car before 2025.
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