Photography Credits: Courtesy Ford
Somewhat related, The Renault R-Sound system:
Electric cars aren’t really known for their exhaust notes–but what if they could be?
Borla Performance is working on a system called “Active Performance Sound,” which is sort of like the electric car version of a bolt-on exhaust:
The Real Power of Sound
The sound of a powertrain adds a cherished layer of sensory awareness to driving enthusiasts, informing them of engine load, throttle input and more. By combining a proprietary algorithm with state-of-the-art audio processing and amplification technology, Borla’s Active Performance Sound System mirrors speed, power, RPM, torque and load with zero latency. The system intensifies the sensation and excitement of EV driving, adding that “auditory connection” drivers covet.
Choose Your Simulation
Sound for Borla's EV system comes from professional recordings of actual Borla-equipped internal-combustion (ICE) vehicles. Multiple microphones capture all characteristics of ICE audio — including idle, ramps to redline, cruising, throttle lifts, “burbles & pops” and more. Using real-time data from the EV's internal computer, the Borla system generates a hyper-realistic ICE soundtrack that perfectly matches the EV motor status and other vehicle dynamics.
Via the system's mobile app, drivers can select from multiple ICE vehicle simulations and Borla sound technologies, including ATAK®, S-Type and Touring, all with full control over volume and other characteristics.
“Sure,” you say to yourself, “But what does it actually sound like?” Well, something like this:
Interested? Borla says it plans to start shipping units “by the Fall of 2022” for the Mustang Mach-E with “applications for Ford Lightning and many other EV models to follow.”
Visit borla.com for more information.
I had a stick horsey when I was a kid. We just made the noises ourselves. Didn't cost anywhere near as much, and did the same thing.
In reply to 03Panther :
Some of us still make those sounds while driving. (And if Jacky Ickx can do it, why can't the rest of us?)
Maybe this is a hot take, but I have zero issues with this or any other generated sound that adds to the driving experience. Honestly I just wish it was more open-source so users could define their own sound profiles. Who wouldn't want want a Camaro that didn't just sound like "Hot for Teacher" but actually PLAYED "Hot for Teacher."? Why not make your fart-can Honda actually make fart noises? Why can't we have motorcycles that go "Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" like Fonzie when we rev them?
The turn signal sound is fake. Why we hating on exhaust? Maybe fake tire squealing noise?
Sound like JC Whitney needs to step up.
Time for my Borla joke:
"Hey, that's an interesting sounding car you have, did you modify it?"
"Why yes, it's a Borla system, they say it's all about giving the car an attitude"
"Oh, is A-hole what you where shooting for?"
It doesn't sound bad but it doesn't quite sound like any Mustang V8 I've ever heard either. Way better than the suped-up vacuum cleaner noises made by the Dodge pneumatic system at least.
Isn't this kinda like vegans trying to make all their stuff taste like meat?
Live look in Borla board room:
I cannot bring myself to celebrate concepts that were previewed in bad Kevin James movies a decade ago.
I wouldn't spend the money on it, but I will say it sounds much better than this...
JG Pasterjak said:Maybe this is a hot take, but I have zero issues with this or any other generated sound that adds to the driving experience. Honestly I just wish it was more open-source so users could define their own sound profiles. Who wouldn't want want a Camaro that didn't just sound like "Hot for Teacher" but actually PLAYED "Hot for Teacher."? Why not make your fart-can Honda actually make fart noises? Why can't we have motorcycles that go "Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" like Fonzie when we rev them?
I want it to play "Too soon Jr." when I pass another car and "Monica!!!!" when a car passes me.
But in all seriousness, making noise for the sake of making noise seems dumb. One of the things I love about EVs is that they are relatively quiet compared to ICE counterparts. I can't wait for the day the ear-bleeding cars of CSP & Kart classes are just whisper quiet.
Wonder what baseball cards they use?
Sorta related.
The post-Ian cleanup had me spending more time than usual at the curb. Honestly, the Teslas don't sound any louder/quieter than the other cars in our neighborhood at 25-ish mph.
At 25mph steady state its mostly tirenoise, except for the not-so-occasional shiny happy person in a truck or loud car that wants to make noise for the sake of noise. See Aircooled's comment earlier.
David S. Wallens said:In reply to 03Panther :
Some of us still make those sounds while driving. (And if Jacky Ickx can do it, why can't the rest of us?)
Or Cale Yarborough
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=search&v=480454625898911&external_log_id=983575f1-563b-48ab-8b12-3dee8a1e06a9&q=Cale%20Yarborough%20engine%20noise
Wow. I used to clip baseball cards to my bike so when I rode, the spokes rubbing against the card made my bike sound like a motorcycle. . . if you ear-squinted. But I never really thought my bicycle was a motorcycle. Just pretend. Do I really want to pretend with a $$$ vehicle? Do I really want my SUV Mach E for my sports/muscle car? Since I'm inside the car when driving, do I really care what people outside think of my cars fake sound? Will Borla sell me a kit to make my LS3 (With Kooks headers, Kooks 49 state cat and Borla cat back exhaust) sound like an EV? My head hurts.
triumph7 said:Isn't this kinda like vegans trying to make all their stuff taste like meat?
I'll remember that one!
I know of exactly zero kale flavored steaks on the market...
In reply to David S. Wallens :
While there is a lot to be said for keeping a young and imaginative attitude, paying for them is a bit far for me. 
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
Some of remember when, and why, turn signals "clicked"
With no click, there needs to be an annunciation, so not truly fake. But kinda.
I think he only reason they click now is because we are accustomed to the sound and it would be strange without it. The flashing green indicator in the dash should be enough reminder to turn it off.
Because so many people use them anywhy....
And the sound still doesnt stop people from leaving them on when they do use them!
A little off topic but I want my GPS to be voiced by MR. T.
"I pity the fool that don't take the next left"
Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:I think he only reason they click now is because we are accustomed to the sound and it would be strange without it. The flashing green indicator in the dash should be enough reminder to turn it off.
Because so many people use them anywhy....
And the sound still doesnt stop people from leaving them on when they do use them!
I definitely appreciate the audible click, the green arrows aren't super bright and are relatively easy to miss 
GameboyRMH said:Gearheadotaku (Forum Supporter) said:I think he only reason they click now is because we are accustomed to the sound and it would be strange without it. The flashing green indicator in the dash should be enough reminder to turn it off.
Because so many people use them anywhy....
And the sound still doesnt stop people from leaving them on when they do use them!
I definitely appreciate the audible click, the green arrows aren't super bright and are relatively easy to miss
Yes and on certain cars without adjustable steering columns, they end up right behind the top of the wheel.
Borla wants to make me throw up in my mouth a little bit. I just can't manage to get even minimally interested in, let alone excited by, completely synthesized sounds.
Gas, diesel, or EV, tuning of the natural sounds is for me.
The gubberment would like your ICE vehicle to sound like an EV, so why not the other way 'round ?
Vroom, vroom, hmmmmmmmmmmmm
It's time for new cool noises.
Borla needs to figure out to soup-up EVs so they make cool high speed sci-noises, instead of admitting that they only sell products because people want their vehicle to sound fast without actually being fast.
Colin Wood said:
Electric cars aren’t really known for their exhaust notes–but what if they could be?
Borla Exhaust is working on a system called “Active Performance Sound,” which is sort of like the electric car version of a bolt-on exhaust:
The Real Power of Sound
The sound of a powertrain adds a cherished layer of sensory awareness to driving enthusiasts, informing them …
THIS is why I went apeE36 M3 about the new EV Charger concept's "exhaust" sound thing.
That's almost as wicked cool as a fart can on a clapped out Civic. Sure seems like those games of "Would You Rather" that we played on deployment, you never really win.
At least it isn't Flowmaster. One thing I don't miss is hearing an endless stream of 5.0 Fox-bodies that had that awful gargly rasp.
I assume they have to try something to still have a business if all cars really do go electric, but I don't think this is going to be very successful. I don't want to be overly negative about people's personal preferences, but I'd judge the hell out of a passing EV that was playing fake V8 noises as it went by...
In reply to Driven5 :
I imagine they see their ICE systems headed towards death so they gotta do something.
JG Pasterjak said:Maybe this is a hot take, but I have zero issues with this or any other generated sound that adds to the driving experience. Honestly I just wish it was more open-source so users could define their own sound profiles. Who wouldn't want want a Camaro that didn't just sound like "Hot for Teacher" but actually PLAYED "Hot for Teacher."? Why not make your fart-can Honda actually make fart noises? Why can't we have motorcycles that go "Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" like Fonzie when we rev them?
Agreed. When it comes down to it, all car noises are engineered to be a certain way. Mufflers, resonance chambers, etc are all ways of tuning the way a car sounds. This maybe takes it a step or two further, but ultimately it's the same thing.
dean1484 said:A little off topic but I want my GPS to be voiced by MR. T.
"I pity the fool that don't take the next left"
I'd rather have Jeremy Clarkson
Edit: Actually I think Hammond might be better... "Here, Allen starts up the expert GPS and commences arguing with it"
03Panther said:I had a stick horsey when I was a kid. We just made the noises ourselves. Didn't cost anywhere near as much, and did the same thing.
You didn't bang two halves of a coconut together?
In reply to Datsun310Guy :
I get that, but it would actually be interesting if they did something more 'groundbreaking' that works entirely with enhancing the natural drivetrain sounds instead. Being imaginative and inventive, rather than gaudy and lazy.
In reply to RadBarchetta :
I disagree. Tuning sounds as they're being created, even with the aid of electronics, to accentuate and enhance them is not even remotely the same thing as spewing purely computer program generated sounds (or effectively a recording of entirely different sounds) over them.
I can at least respect the sounds a band creates live at a concert, even when electronics are used to tune how those sounds make it to the audience, and even if the result isn't always to my taste... But I have zero interest in watching a group of random people on stage pretending to play, while a recording of somebody else's performance is pumped through the speakers.
In reply to Driven5 :
Exactly that.
In reply to Duke :
Except that I'd wait until we know more before passing judgment on the Charger EV 'exhaust'. The patent on it leads me to believe it's a method more akin to an electric guitar or an eletric pickup on an acoustic guitar, and running it through a sound board, than it is to Guitar Hero... Otherwise it wouldn't be anything particularly novel, and Borla would likely be infringing on it right now.
Make believe engine sounds for the make believe mustang? Sounds about par for the course.
Also, 03 Panther wins the internet today. LOLZ
Driven5 said:In reply to Duke :
Except that I'd wait until we know more before passing judgment on the Charger EV 'exhaust'. The patent on it leads me to believe it's a method more akin to an electric guitar or an eletric pickup on an acoustic guitar, and running it through a sound board, than it is to Guitar Hero... Otherwise it wouldn't be anything particularly novel, and Borla would likely be infringing on it right now.
If it is non-electronic, mechanical amplification of a mechanical sound, I'm OK with it even if I may ultimately think it is silly.
The moment electrons are involved is the moment it crosses the line from silly to stupid.
Appleseed said:Wonder what baseball cards they use?
Damn, you beat me to it. I thought I was going to make bank by selling a kit with playing cards and some clothes line clips... geez, I'm dating myself... do the latter even still exist?
In reply to Duke :
Why should the mechanical sounds that bring us joy from cars be any different than the mechanical sounds that bring us joy from musical instruments in that regard?
David S. Wallens said:Sorta related.
The post-Ian cleanup had me spending more time than usual at the curb. Honestly, the Teslas don't sound any louder/quieter than the other cars in our neighborhood at 25-ish mph.
As someone who spends no small amount of time on a road bike through suburban roads, I can say with some authority the wind and tire noise from an EV is essentially identical to that of a modern ICE car.
Turbo_Rev said:It's time for new cool noises.
Borla needs to figure out to soup-up EVs so they make cool high speed sci-noises, instead of admitting that they only sell products because people want their vehicle to sound fast without actually being fast.
Insert mental image of The Jetsons flying car sound....
EDIT: I dislike the concept and hope I never hear one in person.
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:Turbo_Rev said:It's time for new cool noises.
Borla needs to figure out to soup-up EVs so they make cool high speed sci-noises, instead of admitting that they only sell products because people want their vehicle to sound fast without actually being fast.
Insert mental image of The Jetsons flying car sound....
That's precisely what I want my EV to sound like.
You mean they're going to do what Thor is already doing???
https://thor-tuning.com
Feels to me like a product no one wants.
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