VIDEO: Is THIS The Way To Get Over Diesel's Lackluster Soundtrack? V8 Muscle?

One of the largest complaints over diesel powerplants is that they do not sound great. And, most of the time the complaints are justified.

Some still sound old-school, like Volkswagen's Golf TDI, and some have a bit more character, like BMW's 335d.

Regardless, BMW Group is onto something with a new little experiment they have going on starring both a prototype 635d and a MINI Clubman. Essentially, the firm has quieted up the diesel characteristics coming from the engine bay and have managed to pipe harmonies into the cockpit VIA the audio system.

What do you make of this Spies, thumbs up or thumbs down?

BMW engineers have developed a technique for changing the way a driver perceives engine noise, which is sophisticated enough make a diesel engined car sound like it is powered by a high-revving petrol unit.

BMW engineers have built two experimental prototypes, a 635d and a Mini Clubman with the option of four different engine notes including one that sound to its occupants like an old-fashioned ‘muscle car’ V8 engine.

You can here the system at work in the video below...

[Source: Autocar]

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WorldofLuxury - 6/10/2010 2:37:55 AM

0 Boost

aha I love that!

Steve - 6/10/2010 8:09:41 AM

+2 Boost

It all depends on whether you are trying to impress other (nay), or whether your legitimate complaint is the wimpy *sound* (yay).

Research has been done on this exact thing before, and it found that drivers *perceive* their car as being more powerful and more sporty when they had powerful engine noises piped into the car via the audio system. A good thing! The same studies also found that drivers perceived the car as less enjoyable when they drove a powerful car with piped-in 4-cylinder econo-box sound. The one down-side is that drivers who had piped-in muscle audio drove their cars more aggressively, a not so good thing.

FWIW, the Audi's A5 is available as a 4-cyl turbo, which has ample power and torque, and a V-6, which sounds a lot better. Here is a prime example of a car that could benefit from such audio treatment.

SteedPub - 6/10/2010 4:37:31 PM

0 Boost

I kind of like the sound of a turbo-diesel.