In case you didn’t keep yourself too informed about the latest offerings from BMW lately, we can tell you that there have been some changes happening in Munich. Right now, no car on offer from the blue and white roundel manufacturer uses a naturally aspirated engine.
That’s right, the brand that was known for its high-revving V8 and V10 engines or straight-sixes is now making turbocharged mills alone. It’s sad, but it is also the way things have to be done to keep up with the regulations the EU enforces now.
What that has also brought to the table is a mix of unexpected consequences. As you probably know, forced induction engines sound a lot different than atmospheric ones. There’s the noticeable turbo whine present, but other things as well, such as a lower exhaust sound volume.
The reason for that is that the turbochargers are installed on the way out of the engine, muffling the noise made by exhaust fumes as they head towards the end of the car and the exhaust tips, consequently.
Some of the workarounds found by engineers are downright disgusting. From installing speakers in the final mufflers to pumping sound into the cabin, not one of these is honorable. And yet they get the job done. What job? The job of telling you how fast the cylinders are rotating without having to check the rev counter.
In the case of recent BMWs, the solution picked by the Germans was ASD, or Active Sound Design. What this does is amplify the sound the engine makes and stream it through the car’s speakers to keep you informed.
However, some have claimed that the “enhancement” is too intrusive, and it gets in the way, creating a fake feeling inside the car. Having tested the M4, we can tell you first-hand that this is not true. It may be true on other M cars such as the M6, for example, but it is not in this case.
To make things crystal clear, the guys from Piston Heads got an M4 on the track for two laps. The first time around, they went for it with the system on to set a sort of benchmark, while the second time the same device was turned off.
As you can see, the difference is too small to be easily noticed, a clear sign that, at least in this case, ASD is not as obtrusive and obnoxious as some claim. Let us know what you think!
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