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There are two schools of thought emerging when it comes to electric vehicle sounds

Discussion in 'Cooper SE' started by GvilleGuy, Jul 14, 2021.

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  1. Jul 14, 2021 #1
    GvilleGuy

    GvilleGuy Well-Known Member

    Greenville, SC
    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/drive/mobility/article-there-are-two-schools-of-thought-emerging-when-it-comes-to-electric/

    Regarding the Mini Cooper SE sound:

    "When developing sound for the Mini Cooper SE, Vitale began with its 60-year history, its design and also the fact that the car is started, not by the push of a button, but by the press of a lever, which reminded him of a kalimba (an African thumb piano). He incorporated the signature design of the Mini wings and zeroed in on what he began to see as the vehicle’s essence.

    “With Mini, I was trying to translate the energy. There is a warmth that I translated to sunlight.” He created three new sounds related to the way the Mini “speaks.” He then translated his design concept into Morse code and subsequently into musical notes. New EV sounds must ensure they attract attention and transmit information and so this new sound was tested for safety and to ensure that it was not “masked,” a phenomenon in which a sound frequency is not concealed by other sounds and disappears. The final product became the sound the Mini Cooper SE makes when it’s started."
     
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  2. Jul 14, 2021 #2
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    'Led by Renzo Vitale, creative director at the BMW Group, the company is working to create sounds that are unique and purpose-driven for electric vehicles. Vitale considers electric vehicles a “white acoustical canvas.”'

    Another reason to admire the SE. I get why EVs like the Mach-E try to emulate the ICE sounds, but in a few years I bet that's going to seem like a really anachronistic choice.

    I also wonder what movie and TV show car chases will be like when most cars won't make those "muscle car" noises. Is anyone working on an all-electric remake of The Italian Job?
     
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  3. Jul 14, 2021 #3
    insightman

    insightman Well-Known Member Subscriber

    Ann Arbor
    It turns out that some of the MINIs in the 2003 remake of 1969's The Italian Job were electric MINIs.
     
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  4. Jul 14, 2021 #4
    Puppethead

    Puppethead Well-Known Member

    Twin Cities, MN
    I still haven't seen the remake. The original was awesome.
     
  5. Jul 14, 2021 #5
    Torrey

    Torrey Active Member

    I wish pedestrian warning sounds were like ring tones. There would be a default one, but you could choose others that match your style. I would personally go for the beeping sound from the Jetsons. Perhaps, like ring tones, you could load in your own sounds or songs. Walking across a parking lot would become a symphony of sounds.
     
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  6. Jul 14, 2021 #6
    Lainey

    Lainey Well-Known Member

    Yes! Totally unique for the time. Loved both movies and developed my love for Minis as a whole

    I like the sound our cars make. My family finds them all cool too. I dislike fake engine sounds on EVs. My friend and neighbor has a Tesla. His gallops at times :D
     
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