America’s best-selling cars and trucks are built on lies: The rise of fake engine noise

Stomp on the gas in a new Ford Mustang or F-150 and you’ll hear a meaty, throaty rumble — the same style of roar that Americans have associated with auto power and performance for decades.

It’s a sham. The engine growl in some of America’s best-selling cars and trucks is actually a finely tuned bit of lip-syncing, boosted through special pipes or digitally faked altogether. And it’s driving car enthusiasts insane.

Fake engine noise has become one of the auto industry’s dirty little secrets, with automakers from BMW to Volkswagen turning to a sound-boosting bag of tricks. Without them, today’s more fuel-efficient engines would sound far quieter and, automakers worry, seemingly less powerful, potentially pushing buyers away.
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TheSteve - 1/22/2015 2:03:06 PM

0 Boost

Isn't most of marketing a lie? Tell the story that paints your product in the most positive light, and don't tell them about the negatives. There's a picture going 'round the 'Net of pictures of fast food products, marketing vs. reality. There's quite a difference.

I tell people, if you choose to form your opinion on what advertisers or the news tells you, then you'll be misinformed.

valhallakey - 1/22/2015 2:06:49 PM

0 Boost

It is only a lie if they tell you the noise is natural or a lie of omission if they tell you nothing. I know BMW freely admits to this fake noise practice.

Sciros - 1/22/2015 2:32:34 PM

+7 Boost

I remember test-driving the Lincoln MKZ (they lured me with a $50 VISA card or something). It had 300 hp. It had fake engine noise. I told them that it was pretty sad that Lincoln felt it necessary to add smoke and mirrors to make a 300hp V6 sound good enough.

I don't like it.

On a somewhat-related note, I remember reading how legislators want electric cars to emit a "fake engine noise" so people can hear them coming. And I couldn't figure out why it had to be a FAKE ENGINE noise. Can't it just be a loud playback of someone yelling "get the fuck out of the way!" on loop? It should work just as well.

scenicbyway12 - 1/22/2015 2:48:48 PM

-1 Boost

Much ado about nothing.

porsche911 - 1/22/2015 4:03:46 PM

+5 Boost

I want quiet. A nice quiet stress free environment is a good thing, specially at the end of the day. As far as engine sounds go....i prefer the pure engine notes....not the fake ones.

ricks0me - 1/22/2015 5:26:33 PM

-2 Boost

That is why all of those rice burners have coffee can exhaust on their lawn mower engines.

trmckin - 1/23/2015 9:12:15 AM

0 Boost

How is it a lie? The lack of noise has been a complaint with many of these new engines and piped in sound was one of the "remedies". I have a 2104 ecoboost and yes, the sound isn't inspiring at all. The turbo whistle is fairly loud. Similar to a diesel but no engine clatter. Would I pipe in noise? Nope... But I can see where people used to the old v8 rumble would not opt for the ecoboost despite the performance gains. Makers foreign and domestic have been open about the piped in noise. Might want to read some articles before calling them liars on the topic.

joescuba - 1/23/2015 11:29:37 AM

0 Boost

Silence is golden I don't want to hear the engine anymore,

vdiv - 1/23/2015 11:35:30 AM

0 Boost

That's why people need an electric car. No noise fake or real, no jerky slushboxes, no smell, just tranquility and smooth and continuous power.

chewy - 1/26/2015 1:09:46 AM

+1 Boost

You can't fake it on the outside though, GM's V8 pickups sound pretty sweet. The EcoBoost is very strong but definitely does not have a cool sound, at best you get a bit of that turbo whistle.