Volt to make Star Trek sound effects, buyers to look for mute button
By Tim Stevens 
posted October 30th 2008 7:16AM
posted October 30th 2008 7:16AM
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]
[Via Autoblog]
Ambulance, Fire engine, and police sirens too!
You got no ice cream you got no ice cream, you got no ice cream, because... you on the welfare, you on the welfare... and you daddy's an alcoholic.
Want some? Psych!
Cool Idea, now all you need is Majel Barrett-Roddenberry to do the voiceovers for the GPS.
The Volt better make some sort of noise on the outside so you hear the thing coming! Bikers mod their Harley's to sound like beasts, not just because it sounds bad ass, but so people who can't see them at least hear them for their own safety.
There is a lot of empirical evidence that the Harley sound is a mating call for women who look 20 years older than they are and have unfortunate tattoos and incomplete smiles.
SO what you're saying is that it makes the sound of Shatner complaining that he wasn't invited to Sulu's wedding?
Any change to the annoying bitch-at-you sounds in modern vehicles (YOU LEFT THE LIGHTS ON, IDIOT! JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE JUST OPENED THE DOOR! YOU ARE DRIVING BACKWARDS, STUPID! YOU JUST SAT DOWN AND YOU HAVE STILL NOT BUCKLED UP! — !!!! —) is most welcome. One wonders how mankind actually survived up until now without their cars permanently smart-assing at them. The other day I drove with a satnav that would DIIIIIINNNNG at you whenever you marginally exceeded the speed-limit. It is freaking irritating and it makes me afraid too — could it be that there are people allowed to drive that are so damn daft that actually need all the bings? Are they out there on the same road as I am? *help*
Nevertheless, an electric vehicle that actually makes Star Wars Landspeeder sounds or similar instead of some pathetic attempt of imitating a combustion engine is appreciated.
"Say man, somebody stole your batt'ry!! I say we go get the m*****f****r!!"
Say, man, you lef' yo' lights on! I said yo' lights is on, man! What the ****, you blind and deaf? Turn off yo' ******' lights!
Hot Dog! Hey GM, when the government cuts you that relief check, be prepared to “pay me for the rhymes you stole from me!” See you soon (Patent Pending #? ;^)...
Just make it customizable.
Me? I want it to make the going to warp drive sound anytime I press the electric pedal.
If it can belch fire like Bender, I'm buying one.
This might be the only thing that could make me buy a Chevy.
Who Cares What Sound It Makes? The car is crap anyway..Don't give a damn if it sounds like James Brown, it has crap performance..and not even ready to roll out yet. Give me something that really performs..then try wowing me..40 miles on a single charge then over to gas..get the hell out of here. I have been in a rav4 getting 120 miles to a charge..GM is &&%$.
Sorry man, but if it sounds like James I'm buyin' it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq1w0syylZI
TIE Fighter.
GM = Empire, right?
hey, look! the dad from clarissa explains it all works for GM now!
The argument that electric cars are too quiet is ridiculous. The people making these claims are just repeating chatter that originated from someone who thought, "I bet electric cars are so quiet that they propose a safety risk." The fact is that at speed limits posted in areas with pedestrian traffic, most cars which are less than 10 years old and have had proper oil changes are just as silent as an electric. The noise from the car is created by the tires on the road, not the engine. Compare an audio spectrogram from a Civic and a Civic Hybrid driving down a road. You probably can't see a difference. You certainly can't hear one. From inside, you think "wow, it's so much quieter", but from the outside it is not.
I don't know about that. All the Honda Civics around here have fart can exhaust tips. Instant 40 horsepower, slightly less than what you gain from putting Type R stickers on the car.
That's certainly true of the Prius. However, there is a big problem of people in parking lots. Since the Prius tends to stick to electric power when it's cruising or coasting (not accelerating at a high rate) below 35MPH, and tires make more noise when they move faster, it's easier to sneak up on someone in an electric vehicle. Of course, this is still flawed logic, as a car moving slowly has a small stopping distance (Probably under two feet at parking lot speeds) and thus drivers have more time to react and observe their surroundings.
First off I'm guessing by the number of stupid comments about blind people and cars in general most of you are not old enoough to drive. I think it IS illegal to shut your car off and coast down a hill. In fact I think it is actually illegal to put a standard transmission car into neutral while still running and coast down a hill. I also think the high price tag of the volt will keep any of you ditch digging and burger flipping morons from buying one.
I guess that is your opinion, I would LOVE all those sound effects!