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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
There are four major contributors to the sound note of an accelerating vehicle: intake, exhaust, combustion and mechanical. Intake and exhaust can be tuned within those system components (but with potential side effects in performance, emissions and FE). The other two: not so much.
In the mid 2000's, Honda ran into a problem with sales in the "Street Racer" market in SoCal. They had difficulty maintaining market share because potential customers considered them slower than the competition. Side by side comparisons showed their acceleration curves were comparable. They were, however, quieter.
Honda quietly released an underhood speaker system for that market that augmented the noise more to the customers liking (adding about $3000 to the manufacturing cost of the vehicle - at least that's what their supplier quoted the company I was working for) . As a result, their market share increased back in line with expectations.
The other OEM's took note and have since implemented similar techniques elsewhere. It's become a rapidly growing business with multiple suppliers involved.
Either Mustang or Camaro has a "dial-a-note" option on some of their packages which actuated a valve in the exhaust. (I have had a ride in both recently - can't remember which one had it ).
"Don't worry. They couldn't possibly hit us from that dist...."
Almost all SUVs made these days are of unibody construction and are adapted from car platforms anyway. It sounds to me like they are saying that they are only going to make cars that are SUV shaped. There really is no distinction other than that.
It's going to hard to make the exhaust from a turbo four cylinder sound like a Mustang V-8. At work, even though we are a half mile from stop light, you can tell when it's a Mustang coming off the line.
Honda quietly released an underhood speaker system for that market that augmented the noise more to the customers liking (adding about $3000 to the manufacturing cost of the vehicle - at least that's what their supplier quoted the company I was working for) . As a result, their market share increased back in line with expectations.
Are you saying Honda added external speakers and plays sound loops of boy racer engine noise? Model railroading was just getting into this when I got out.
Could be an option for a Tesla.
Bill D
Technology already exists to do that. (I experienced that in a prototype Mustang a few years ago...) The issue is if that you're going to market both Powertrains, why make them sound alike?
In Honda's case it was to accent the intake note (which is a primary contributor while accelerating) without redesigning the entire induction system and going thru retooling/recertification.
As far as electric cars are concerned, I believe speaker systems are already being used so cars can't catch pedestrians by surprise. (I may be mistaken but it's either a Federal requirement - or about to be one - for electric vehicles in urban areas.)
"Don't worry. They couldn't possibly hit us from that dist...."
I don't know if it'll be the same vehicle but the Ranger has been available overseas for some time, including a diesel version. I read that Ford felt the Ranger sales in the U.S. were coming at the expense of much more lucrative F150 sales so that version of the Ranger never made it to U.S. shores.
Driving habits change. My daughter and family live 10 minutes away from our house. There are four vehicles between the
two households. None of them are sedans. There are three SUV's and one pickup truck. I'm sure the automobile makers
make what will sell.
The new North American Ranger pick-em-up truck does have some roots in the vehicle that's been available elsewhere in the world, but they've also done a bit of work above that, too. GM did the same for their mid-sized pickups that were re-introduced to the market not so long ago.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
I went to look for a new Ranger in 2013, and found out Ford was not making them anymore. I read that they were expecting to up-sell Ranger buyers to the newly redesigned F150 with the new ECO-boost engine that would give better mileage than the Ranger. I can't fit a F150 in my garage, and didnt want a full-size anyway, so no sale. Happy with my Honda, which had a higher percentage of US parts than Chevy or Dodge. Oh, and not fooled when they say "North American".
I hadn't heard of this until this thread, yet it had to come. I say this because the SUV line of vehicles offers such utility & flexibility for different regions of our country, in addition to their popularity.
Frankly, I've often thought there simply is way too many choices for consumers among all the different vehicle models and accessories offered by auto manufacturers. How many different models & options are there; hundreds? Why do we need so many? It's beyond time to get reasonable. Capitalism is great in my book, it brings out the best in us, but it seems our competitive nature has focussed a bit too much on vehicle models & the tweaking of profits. There's a limit on style, engine performance, and efficiencies based on the internal combustion engine.
Let's get on with future designs of travel. How about one-person or family helicopters, or vehicles that can both drive on the roads and fly?
Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!
"We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
“The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill
Al, "back in the day", there was a little more differentiation between brands (especially within one major overall name, like GM), models and the markets they targeted. That got diluted a whole lot over time and as a result, so many name-plates disappeared. Back then, you could also order most options "a la carté" which for most brands/models in the mass market is very much a thing of the past. GM, FCA, others and now Ford have had to re-jigger things and it's not surprising to me that the bullseye is now on reducing less popular models and embracing what the public wants to buy, especially since it's not about the product/customer/employee anymore in business, but rather about Wall Street and short term financial results.
In some ways, the SUV and crossover revolution has ushered in an era of more practical vehicles for many drivers and that's without seriously limiting style and comfort for those who want it. Check out the new Rolls Royce SUV that is about to debut.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Mustang is already available with the Ecoboost 4 cylinder. Pretty easy to mod them into an 11s 1/4 mile car. Ford has already indicated the hybrid powertrain is coming. Wouldn't mind having one if it wasn't for winter. And Michigan insurance.
I don't know about the Colorado/Canyon, but the Australian Ranger is pretty much what's coming here. Obviously changes were made to meet regulations and move the steering wheel to the other side. I guess the sheet metal is pretty much all different since they had to build new tools anyway. A friend posted a picture several weeks back of the first to be built at Michigan Truck Plant (by hand) and its a good looking truck. Depending on what we decide to do when we become empty nesters in 2 years, I could see leasing one as my next vehicle. Kind of like the new Colorado too but I had one of the previous gen ones and had more than acceptable level quality issues and since I get Z-plan as long as mom is around, makes it hard to buy anything else.