Support our non-partisan non-profit newsroom 💜 Donate now
Final Note

Auto industry’s dirty little secret: Fake engine noise

Kai Ryssdal Jan 22, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY
Final Note

Auto industry’s dirty little secret: Fake engine noise

Kai Ryssdal Jan 22, 2015
HTML EMBED:
COPY

The engine noise you hear on the fine roads of the United States of America are often artificially enhanced, according to the Washington Post.

Fake engine noise has become one of the auto industry’s dirty little secrets, the report says. Drivers want better gas mileage, but also the sound of a powerful car. Volkswagen uses something called a “Soundaktor.” Porsche has a “Sound Symposer.”

Can you tell the difference? Here are sounds of a real Ford F150, and the “enhanced” version. Which is which? Go down to our comments to see the answer.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.