Photo: Stefan Baldauf / SB-Medien
Whereas not long ago making a car’s engine sound in a particular way was the job of engineers, now that electric cars are here makes this more of a job for a composer.
Electric powertrains do not generate sound loud enough to be heard as clearly as the one of an ICE engine. This has created the general need to have some type of other sound making noise where noise is due.
For premium car manufacturers, the need for EV sounds is even more stringent, as they have to keep the bar set by the V6s, V8s and V12s at about the same levels.
Enter collaborations never-before thought possible, like the one between BMW and German composer Hans Zimmer, best known for his work on films like Rain Man, The Dark Knight, or Interstellar.
Earlier this summer, BMW announced Zimmer will be the man behind the sounds made by future Bimmers, starting with the Vision M Next. Now, as the year draws to a close, the carmaker presented an evolution of this project.
You see, BMW is so serious about making a good impression on its customers down to the type of sound made by its cars that it came up with a brand dedicated to this. Called BMW IconicSounds Electric it will be led by Zimmer himself.
The first product of the brand, if it can be called that, is a sound signaling readiness for driving in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It will be rolled out next year on several unnamed vehicles. More sounds will follow, crafted by the same gifted composer, and meant for both series and concept cars.
Zimmer will also be in charge with “sound creation for communicative occasions focusing on the acoustic-emotional character of electric mobility,” whatever that means.
“We have the unique opportunity to turn electric driving in a BMW into a magnificent experience with outstanding sonority,” said Zimmer.
“I am really looking forward to the challenge of shaping the sound for future electric BMW’s. Developing the sounds for the BMW Vision M NEXT together with Renzo Vitale was already an inspiring, new experience for me.”
More on this in the press release section below.
For premium car manufacturers, the need for EV sounds is even more stringent, as they have to keep the bar set by the V6s, V8s and V12s at about the same levels.
Enter collaborations never-before thought possible, like the one between BMW and German composer Hans Zimmer, best known for his work on films like Rain Man, The Dark Knight, or Interstellar.
Earlier this summer, BMW announced Zimmer will be the man behind the sounds made by future Bimmers, starting with the Vision M Next. Now, as the year draws to a close, the carmaker presented an evolution of this project.
You see, BMW is so serious about making a good impression on its customers down to the type of sound made by its cars that it came up with a brand dedicated to this. Called BMW IconicSounds Electric it will be led by Zimmer himself.
The first product of the brand, if it can be called that, is a sound signaling readiness for driving in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It will be rolled out next year on several unnamed vehicles. More sounds will follow, crafted by the same gifted composer, and meant for both series and concept cars.
Zimmer will also be in charge with “sound creation for communicative occasions focusing on the acoustic-emotional character of electric mobility,” whatever that means.
“We have the unique opportunity to turn electric driving in a BMW into a magnificent experience with outstanding sonority,” said Zimmer.
“I am really looking forward to the challenge of shaping the sound for future electric BMW’s. Developing the sounds for the BMW Vision M NEXT together with Renzo Vitale was already an inspiring, new experience for me.”
More on this in the press release section below.
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