Photo: Chevrolet
The Ford Mustang with the EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo has one, so why wouldn’t the Corvette Stingray with the LT2 small-block V8 pump fake engine sounds into the cabin? Matt Farah confirmed the feature on Twitter despite the embargo on driving impressions, which will be lifted on October 16th.
“It is a specification fact, so I can say it,” added the man behind The Smoking Tire. Because fake induction and exhaust noises are to the automotive industry what Auto Tune is for vocalists, we aren’t exactly surprised by Chevrolet’s sound box. On the upside, the system in the C8 can be disconnected.
Farah did so “for 15 minutes” but didn’t go into the finer details, which leads us to believe that pulling out a fuse should do the trick. If not, then disconnecting the sound box will defeat the system even though “the real sound is nonexistent.”
This gets us to a paradox of the automotive industry. Taking the ‘Vette as a case in point, customers want a mid-engined sports car that’s both visceral when in the mood for sporty driving and comfortable on the long haul. Meeting halfway is almost impossible for engineers in this day and age, which is why the perfect and cheapest compromise is embodied by artificial sounds.
Here’s another thing worth mentioning. Both the coupe and convertible can be driven without a top, helping the LT2 get the song of its people into the cabin without too much of an effort. Add the sports exhaust to the mix, and you have to ask yourself what was Chevrolet actually thinking?
Looking at the bigger picture, the ‘Vette has always been a sports car with the characteristics of a grand tourer. The car’s character comes into its own when you remember there’s storage for two sets of golf clubs, let alone if you consider that most buyers are well past the prime of their life.
Before bringing up the sound tube that routes the appealing suck-squeeze-bang-blow sounds into the cabin while canceling the unwated noises, you might want to realize that’s not the whole picture. “The [fake] sound was coming from the front speakers,” mentioned Farah.
“Jason Cammisa, who is the most sensitive car person I've ever met, caught it. Even the General Motors reps on hand didn't know the car had it, and when Jason pressed them, they went back to home base and confirmed that yes, the car plays exhaust notes from the speakers.”
Fake engine noise confirmed, case closed.
Farah did so “for 15 minutes” but didn’t go into the finer details, which leads us to believe that pulling out a fuse should do the trick. If not, then disconnecting the sound box will defeat the system even though “the real sound is nonexistent.”
This gets us to a paradox of the automotive industry. Taking the ‘Vette as a case in point, customers want a mid-engined sports car that’s both visceral when in the mood for sporty driving and comfortable on the long haul. Meeting halfway is almost impossible for engineers in this day and age, which is why the perfect and cheapest compromise is embodied by artificial sounds.
Here’s another thing worth mentioning. Both the coupe and convertible can be driven without a top, helping the LT2 get the song of its people into the cabin without too much of an effort. Add the sports exhaust to the mix, and you have to ask yourself what was Chevrolet actually thinking?
Looking at the bigger picture, the ‘Vette has always been a sports car with the characteristics of a grand tourer. The car’s character comes into its own when you remember there’s storage for two sets of golf clubs, let alone if you consider that most buyers are well past the prime of their life.
Before bringing up the sound tube that routes the appealing suck-squeeze-bang-blow sounds into the cabin while canceling the unwated noises, you might want to realize that’s not the whole picture. “The [fake] sound was coming from the front speakers,” mentioned Farah.
“Jason Cammisa, who is the most sensitive car person I've ever met, caught it. Even the General Motors reps on hand didn't know the car had it, and when Jason pressed them, they went back to home base and confirmed that yes, the car plays exhaust notes from the speakers.”
Fake engine noise confirmed, case closed.
The new Corvette has fake engine noise from the speakers. This is not a driving impression, it is a specification fact, so I can say it. https://t.co/Q5orkIYDSa
— Matt Farah (@TheSmokingTire) October 3, 2019
On his JTN video the engine noise seemed "off". The SBC sounded a bit more like a truck tuned SBC, than mid-engine sports car. Exhaust sounded held back as well.
— Andrew Arwood (@AFutureMe) October 3, 2019
Artificially or excessively restrained?
Of course I am taking in consideration Matt driving it very gingerly.
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