Volt to make Star Trek sound effects, buyers to look for mute button

While gear-head environmentalists prepare to forego the internally combusted symphonies that get their hearts pumping for the sake of a greener and quieter planet of electric cars, some folks at GM are thinking up some... interesting ways to bring new, "highly technical" sounds back into the picture. The Volt, which is intended to run silently much of the time, will apparently be the recipient of some sci-fi-sourced effects; GM's E-Flex Global Vehicle Line Executive Frank Weber saying to expect noises like "when on Spaceship Enterprise you hear the doors close, or use the transporter." That he didn't know it's actually the Starship Enterprise doesn't give us much hope for anything more than what happens when a 10-year-old figures out how to customize sounds in their computers -- random, irritating blats from the speakers whenever you touch anything.

[Via Autoblog]

[From My Cube @ Oct 30th 2008 7:24AM]

if i can make it go "pew pew pew" when i unlock or lock it....SOLD

[Matt @ Oct 30th 2008 7:28AM]

I hope they don't limit it to Star Trek. I want my car to make that "woosh woosh" sound that K.I.T.T.'s scanner bar made. That sound effect mixed with that Knight Rider GPS system would be EXCELLENT!

[erhan @ Oct 30th 2008 10:21PM]

I just saw the first episode of the new knight rider and I could not finish it. Im sorry but i wanted to blow my brains out.
I too would love that "whoo"

[DisgruntledIT @ Oct 30th 2008 7:36AM]

These are the voyage of the Spaceship Enterprise... It's continuing mission to seek out, play, and annoying people with it's "highly technical" sounds...

[happy_penguin @ Oct 30th 2008 2:04PM]

"spaceship"?

You're obviously not a trekkie.

[Dan @ Oct 30th 2008 4:04PM]

@happy_penguin

And you, obviously, didn't read the whole article. Particularly that bit about Frank Webber saying "Spaceship Enterprise" and Engadget calling him out on it.

FLAME FAIL.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 30th 2008 5:27PM]

Apparently.

[msm @ Oct 30th 2008 7:36AM]

I'm glad they're taking care of sound, how about focusing on their publicity images...I mean again with the glamor shots, really now...

[O...M...G... @ Oct 30th 2008 7:45AM]

Oh god, as if those phones with customized ring tones weren't annoying enough. Now we're going to have to listen to it every time somebody starts one of these up within ear shot as well!

[thedesolate1 @ Oct 30th 2008 7:54AM]

Well if mine can shoop da whoop I'll buy it!
Just get these electric car killing execs far away from my press photos.

[Alexandre Emond @ Oct 30th 2008 7:54AM]

Isn't our MP3 or our selected radio the only sound that we want to hear from the car?

[jim @ Oct 30th 2008 8:22AM]

it's not about that.

the issue is that visually impared people can't cross the road safely if they can't even HEAR cars coming any more, so most electric car manufacturers are artificially adding sounds to them.

[Silverfrog @ Oct 30th 2008 9:58AM]

re: jim

Why are visually impaired individuals crossing the street without help? If you're too blind to see across the street safely, don't cross without help. I'm sorry but that is a lame reason to add sounds to vehicles. Bicycles also don't make any sounds and they have not been forced to make sounds.

[rock99rock @ Oct 30th 2008 10:12AM]

@Silverfrog

Bicycles don't weigh 3000 pounds.

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 30th 2008 10:15AM]

They should...

[Mitch @ Oct 30th 2008 12:28PM]

Well how about all of those fuel saving people who actually turn off their cars when coasting downhill? Is it against the law for them to do that on the off chance that a blind person is crossing the street? I doubt it.

[BigD145 @ Oct 30th 2008 12:52PM]

Crosswalks should be taking care of the visually impaired. Other people should be taking care of the visually impaired. If you don't want to take the time/effort/money to do that, then you'd better start euthanizing them.

[happy_penguin @ Oct 30th 2008 2:12PM]

"Silverfrog @ Oct 30th 2008 9:58AM

re: jim

Why are visually impaired individuals crossing the street without help? If you're too blind to see across the street safely, don't cross without help."

Visually impaired people are often quite mobile and independent and don't necessarily need help to cross a street. I don't know where you're from but in the US, they're often indicated by the white cane and as a driver you're supposed to watch for them, not the other way around.

[badhack @ Oct 30th 2008 4:04PM]

Hate to burst anyone's bubble, but electric cars won't be silent. If you've ever heard traffic you'd instantly realize that much of the noise is made by the TIRES not the engine.

[Dan @ Oct 30th 2008 4:10PM]

@Mitch

Actually, in some states, it is illegal to turn off your engine -- or even put it in neutral -- when travelling down the street. In particular, the ability to control some vehicles is impaired without the engine running some accessories, e.g. power brakes, power steering, etc.

[Twitchy @ Oct 31st 2008 7:36AM]

@Jim et al: The noise complaint against electric cars is used by only three groups of people:

1. People who love Big Oil
2. PC brigade members
3. People who are too stupid to realise that the days of their inefficient V6/V8/V10 is numbered

These three groups are in it for either money, fame or blatant stupidity (in that order). To which do you belong?

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 7:59AM]

What about the STAR WARS version where everytime you make a lane change the steering wheel makes a Lightsaber "Vhhher whoosh" sound....

[Mugsy @ Oct 30th 2008 8:16AM]

That's genuis.

[Ryback @ Oct 30th 2008 8:20AM]

That will make the highway patrol overworked from stopping suspected DUI's

[lanosian @ Oct 30th 2008 8:20AM]

That's genus.

[Starnerf @ Oct 30th 2008 9:06AM]

When you hit another car does it do the clashing sound?

[Tony @ Oct 30th 2008 11:52AM]

That's genius.

[av8or @ Oct 30th 2008 2:30PM]

instead of idiot lights it should make r2 noises to alert you to problems

[NHAnimator @ Oct 30th 2008 2:39PM]

Maybe when you hit a jaywalker: "Great shot kid! That was one in a million!"

[Janv1er @ Oct 30th 2008 9:16AM]

OMG THIS IS GOIN 2 B TEH COOLEST CAR EVARRRR !!!!11!111!!!

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 9:19AM]

hey!, the |CAPS LOCK| store called,

they want their key back

[Frankfurter @ Oct 30th 2008 9:25AM]

Yeah, the |They want their back| people called. They want you to use a new joke.

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 9:33AM]

Yea, well the Jerk Store called, and they're running out of you!

[Janv1er @ Oct 30th 2008 9:52AM]

I take it you're new to the internets..

[Dave @ Oct 30th 2008 9:59AM]

In other news, the US Department of Justice is investigating The Jerk Store and The |CAPS LOCK| Store on allegations of monopolistic practices. Jerks, when asked their opinion on the investigation, tended to be dismissive.

Jerk: "Heck, isn't the DoJ the real monopoly of jerks?"

Caps lock addicts interviewed for this article were positively morose.

CLA: "my caps lock key... they took it away... my precious..."

Please stay tuned to later updates, which will never happen.

[rock99rock @ Oct 30th 2008 10:21AM]

@Janv1er

Judging by your original post, you are 9 and new to the internets as well. Grow some ballhair.

[Level 5 @ Oct 30th 2008 8:13AM]

This reminds me of when I got my Sprint Mogul phone. It could be customized to make 2 particular sound effects that I found awesome, one when you opened the keyboard, and one when you closed it. Giddy was I when I put Super Mario sound effects for going from little to big and big to little, when I had a open and close of a Star Wars lightsaber, and when I had 2 Transformers sound effects.

But let me tell you how my friends wanted to effing kill me for it.

Even I got tired of them after a while. It's just a gimmick. In a car no less. I would hope it could at least be turned off.

[NHAnimator @ Oct 30th 2008 8:23AM]

"Weber said the Volt will have 'a pedestrian-friendly alert' that is driver activated. 'You would activate it much like you would your high-beam,' he said."

Uh, my car already has one of those. It's called a horn.

[Tim @ Oct 30th 2008 8:10PM]

No, this is much better. It makes the klaxon noises from Star Trek and shakes the rear view camera, gauges and mirrors appropriately.

[strider_mt2k @ Oct 30th 2008 8:26AM]

It's all about the sounds the JETSONS cars made.

Star Trek, yeesh!

[rock99rock @ Oct 30th 2008 10:14AM]

Classic.

pedepedepedepedepede

[monoverb @ Oct 30th 2008 8:39AM]

It's like those cash registers at convenience stores that make the sound of an old fashioned register.
WHY?!?!?! I feel so bad for the peole that have work there and listen to that all day long.
That is the only reason I feel bad for them.

[Mobius_1 @ Oct 30th 2008 8:54AM]

This would annoy lots of car fans...

(Close eyes) "Oh, listen, that sounds like a Lambo Murcielago!"

(Opens eyes) "Damn! Another Volt!"

[peepeepants @ Oct 30th 2008 8:54AM]

These are the voyager of the Spaceship Enterprise; its continuation of to exploring new strange land, to seek for the new life and society... TO BOLDLY GO, SOMEPLACE WHERE NO ONE HAS BEEN, LONG TIME!

*cue logo*

"Space Trek"

[LarryLarryLarry @ Oct 30th 2008 10:17AM]

Top 10 post!

[Frankfurter @ Oct 30th 2008 8:55AM]

I think it would be cool. I'm sure you all much prefer the "DING DING DING DING DING" your car makes (for those of you old enough to drive)? Most cars make some kind of noise everytime you get in them and turn them on, leave the lights on, don't buckle your belt, whatever. To compare it to your cellphone sounds that you get tired of is a stretch. Do you really think you'll be opening and closing your car doors as much as you do a cell phone? Tards.....

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 9:04AM]

...Wiener

[f00 @ Oct 30th 2008 10:26AM]

iEye, clearly he's from Frankfurt, not Vienna

ps. yes that was a lame german joke
pps. wow; engadget's comment system sucks...

[iEye @ Oct 30th 2008 5:13PM]

so is it
Frankfurter Würstel
or
Wiener Würstchen

[Patriks7 @ Oct 30th 2008 8:58AM]

What a bag of hurt.. no one will ever want their car to make sound.. God says so..