Filed under: Gadgets, CES, Humor
CES 2009: Add V8 sound on an I4 budget
ATTENTION HYBRID CAR DRIVERS: Are you feeling depressed? Inadequate? Does your spouse look at you the same way she/he did 20 years ago? Are you able to satisfy their needs? Is your commute a drudgery in monotonous mediocrity?
Now you can feel decades younger, impress your fellow commuters and give your lover the thrill they seek with SoundRacer. For only $45 this FM transmitter can transform your weak-sounding ride into the snarling, growling sportscar you desire. Gently slide it in your car's accessory power plug and listen as your car's stereo speakers produce the sounds of hundreds of horsepower. Press the accelerator to increase the virtual RPMs and heartbeat-speeding roars. Your lover will certainly show appreciation for your virtually enlarged engine and stamina. And when the mood is right, the SoundRacer will stream Barry White from your iPod. All. Night. Long.
Disclaimer: SoundRacer will not fool anyone who has ever actually ridden in a V8-powered car. Use at your own risk in street races, muscle car rallys and NASCAR track parking lots. SoundRacer is not responsible for any adverse situation caused by SoundRacer including severe mocking, name-calling and even ass beating. Use at your own risk of humiliation and embarrassment.
SoundRacer's managing director, Kenneth Palmest'l, tells us he's currently looking for distributors of his device, so don't rush out looking for one.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 7:44AM (1/09/2009)
If I put this in a car with a V8, will this make people think I have a W16?
Seriously, though. How does it know when the accelerator is pressed? If it's based off of a microphone that listens to your real engine, that will be awkward because I reckon things like talking or bumps would make your fake engine rev. XD
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jon benson 8:24AM (1/09/2009)
There's normally slight voltage variations in the cars power supply when revved which this thing might feed off. Not sure how it will work with the coming wave of stop start engines :) Like you say, the mic is a non starter (boom boom!)
jon
http://www.actualmpg.com
Chris Tutor 11:24AM (1/09/2009)
Jon, you're correct. The device monitors and reacts to the electrical fluctuations from the engine to make the appropriate sound.
v8 rule 7:48AM (1/09/2009)
Why go thru the embaresment of that, put a crossplane crank in the 4 cylinder engine like the 2009 yamaha r1. Listen to this, no shame here. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=35020
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Kattleox 8:10AM (1/09/2009)
Or just put in some decent exhaust and be proud of your lightweight and high-rpm heritage.
But if the target audience is hybrid owners, you aren't going to trick anyone into thinking your Prius is fast.
FThorn 7:59AM (1/09/2009)
As a prius owner I don't envy a v8 sound. I like my quiet car. My teen years were quite some time ago.
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Gary 11:17AM (1/09/2009)
Did you say that with your eyes closed?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5rQM_HAcfA
FThorn 11:39AM (1/09/2009)
The only way I would have said/typed it with my eyes closed is if I had been experiencing another sharp pain from my recent cancer surgery.
I have nothing to relate to that joke, except the NSFW video you posted. What I mean is I have never seen south park, don't know anything about it, etc. Mainly because I have never had 'pay' TV. All my TV comes free, OTA (Over the air); that's about what I can afford.
And, I am pretty much an anti-environmentalist. I HAVE stopped throwing trash out my windows, but that's about it for my part in any 'green' crap.
As for some of the points they make in the video, no one knows I drive a Prius. Even when they get IN it, it's just an ordinary car. So, no, I don't stand out. It's a 2001 and looks like any other small car. The only time people notice me is when they exceed the speed limit and eventually catch up with me. I have given up speeding. I used to do over 100 mph every single time I got on an interstate. But now my two Valentine One radar detectors don't have much to do any longer.
Sure, I had my fair share of V8's tricked out and straight pipes. I grew up with guys that built funny car V8s, all my friends had Challengers, Cudas, Superbirds/bees, Chargers, Coronets, etc. My first car was a 442. I raced motorcycles. Friends died in car wrecks and motorcycle wrecks. I SHOULD have died in them, probably. I'm just in my relaxed, take it easy, post-cancer (hopefully) mode now. (but I still won't pay for TV signals)
Cheers.
moyoi 11:55AM (1/09/2009)
I'm not sure what being a teen has to do with anything?
behinddawindow 8:27AM (1/09/2009)
I can use this if i get a Tesla Roadster!!!! HAHA Actually Jeremy Clarkson did mention that it should come with a V8 CD sound track.
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henrykrinkle 8:28AM (1/09/2009)
They also sell decals of muscle cars that you can paste on the side of your Neon so everyone will think you're driving a Challenger. All purchases come with a free t-shirt that says "Not a douche bag".
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hoov23 9:47AM (1/09/2009)
I think this is hilarious and has been missing from the novelty market for some time. I'll buy one, it will surely be good for a laugh (my Smart already has a V12 badge off one of my old Jaguars, and this would be a perfect compliment).
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JZeke 10:23AM (1/09/2009)
A V8 is all well and good, but why not download the complete engine soundtrack from Forza? Then you can have your car sound like an F50GT one day, an LP640 with a race gearbox the next - then cruise on the weekends to the burble of a Zonda.
I'm waiting for something like this that makes horse galloping sounds, or perhaps cows mooing... or even the mating calls of Humpback whales. That would def get the ladies...
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Rick 10:35AM (1/09/2009)
Why a mere V8? The sound of a Ferrari V12 is much more glorious.
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no-elecktricks 10:38AM (1/09/2009)
How about not buying a electric car. The money you wasted, you can go out and buy a real car, one with 5 or more cylinders. If you need the electric fix play golf.
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Kiiks 6:55PM (1/09/2009)
I'm gonna get one ASAP and stick it in my buddy's Escort!
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innoc3nt 7:01PM (1/09/2009)
I had actually been thinking of an idea like this for quite a while. I wasn't sure how to implement it, but I was hoping to hook up an rpm-sensor of some sort to my Corolla and have it play the engine soundtrack of a Countach through the speakers.
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Timbo Slice 11:30PM (1/09/2009)
did you guys forget about the vroom-box? its been out for a while....
http://www.vroombox.com/vroombox/
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Denim 9:34PM (1/15/2009)
This is so sad it's not even funny. Like Fiat drivers who swap their badges for Ferrari ones.
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