Chevrolet Volt to get Sci-Fi soundtrack
One of the concerns about today's electric and hybrid vehicles is that they don't make the same noises as internal-combustion-propelled conveyances. It seems customers have come to expect a certain sound when a vehicle starts or is put into motion, and electric motors just can't compare to ICEs. GM has decided to add a soundtrack to its upcoming Chevy Volt to remedy that situation. Rather than plugging in the melodic symphony of the ZR1's LS9, however, they think the car deserves something a bit more space-age to go along with its high-tech hardware, and apparently there are some Trekkies at GM HQ. While we doubt they'll actually license the sound effects from the the Kirk and Spock franchise, E-Flex vehicle line executive, Frank Weber thinks the Volt should make sounds similar to when "you hear the doors close, or use the transporter," on the USS Enterprise. So it's official. The Prius' place in the geek hierarchy has been eclipsed by the Volt.
[Source: GM-Volt.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Sid 7:13PM (10/29/2008)
In before "I can't Captain, I need more power" jokes
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john.paulsson 7:16PM (10/29/2008)
Oh. My. God.
Like someone said before, now when they have the opportunity, they should "invent" a sound for their electric cars. Something recognizable. It's just plain stupid to rip it off of Star Trek. Instead, imagine a Mercedes-Benz rolling up with that creepy choir boy sound logo :P
But isn't the tire noise is more than enough anyway?
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Tourian 7:26PM (10/29/2008)
Tire noise is not enough. Especially when ambient noise outside can drown it out.
I'm all for unique/original noise too, but I'm sure with today's sound chips and hard drives they'll probably have numerous "profiles" you can choose from. You might even be able to go online and download new "ringtones" for it.
Torrent 7:35PM (10/29/2008)
remember this? No?
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/its-happened-boy-hit-by-hybrid-mom-blames-quiet-running/
well.........there ya go anyway........
john.paulsson 3:17PM (10/30/2008)
I don't really think so. It's hard to hear a four-banger over the tire noise in city traffic, as long as you don't rev it much.
Hitting a kid and blaming it on the car... That's not the first time.
john.paulsson 7:16PM (10/29/2008)
Oh. My. God.
Like someone said before, now when they have the opportunity, they should "invent" a sound for their electric cars. Something recognizable. It's just plain stupid to rip it off of Star Trek. Instead, imagine a Mercedes-Benz rolling up with that creepy choir boy sound logo :P
But isn't the tire noise is more than enough anyway?
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Hortos 8:29PM (10/29/2008)
Wouldn't a blind person have more acute hearing than a sighted person? So they'd hear the tire noise which is usually very loud, have you ever heard a Tesla in person its as loud as typical commuter car its just quieter than other sports cars.
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socarboy99 7:32PM (10/29/2008)
"Captain, she's not going to take it much longer...she's flying apart at the seams!"
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Justin 7:25PM (10/29/2008)
Cmon ladies...you know it's sexy.
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Xander 7:27PM (10/29/2008)
As stupid as this idea sounds to me I cant help but think of how people will only buy vacuum cleaners that scream in the mistaken belief that they are more powerful. Leave it to GM for beginning what is likely to be a totaly useless standard feature.
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Mike 7:28PM (10/29/2008)
I was hoping they would make it go woooooo-wooooooo
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homunculus 7:40PM (10/29/2008)
that's only in the morning. it's like an alarm clock.
Talisman 8:31AM (10/30/2008)
LOL
Geeky1 10:18PM (10/29/2008)
Nicely played.
Kalle 10:06AM (11/01/2008)
That's just for decoration, man..
WOO WOO!
fixitfixitstop 10:11AM (10/30/2008)
hhahahahahahaha
socarboy99 7:31PM (10/29/2008)
"Scotty we need more power to the engines!"
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ugg.tryptophan 7:32PM (10/29/2008)
when has the prius been on top of the geek hierarchy? the dodge starcraft owns it, name alone
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JF 7:35PM (10/29/2008)
This makes me LOL.
On a side note, does the LS9 really sound different than the LS7 and other LS v8's, other than exhaust? There doesn't seem to be any blower whine and the redline isn't any higher than the LS7...
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Frylock350 10:50AM (10/30/2008)
The ZR1 has its own exhaust tuning and even though the whine is barely audible the intake sound is different. Watch a video of the ZR1 doing burnouts vs a Z06 or Z51, you can hear the difference.