Ferrari Announces Its First Electric Sports Car, Promising Real Engine Noises - Sort Of
- Reference: 0179759922
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/25/10/12/0532223/ferrari-announces-its-first-electric-sports-car-promising-real-engine-noises---sort-of
- Source link:
"The Elettrica" will also have a large high-density battery for over 329 miles (530 km) of range, ultra-fast DC charging up to 350 kW, and a 122 kWh capacity and an energy density of 195 Wh/kg that Ferrari "claims is the highest among production EVs."
But what's really interesting is its engine noises:
> Ferrari's approach to the Elettrica's sound moves away from [3]artificial engine simulation . Instead, a sensor mounted on the inverter detects the powertrain's real mechanical vibrations, which are then amplified to create what the company describes as a natural, evolving tone that reflects how the car is being driven... a reactive soundtrack. Antonio Palermo [Ferrari's head of sound and vibration] calls it "language and connection," a way to keep drivers emotionally engaged with the car without resorting to synthetic gimmicks...
>
> Needless to say, how convincing this synthesized feedback will feel in practice remains to be seen, as much of Ferrari's allure has traditionally rested on the emotional impact of its combustion engines.
"The Torque Shift Engagement system offers five selectable levels of power and torque using the right paddle, while the left paddle adjusts braking intensity," the article points out.
But if the engine noises are well-executed, [4]argues the EV news site Electrek , "I even think it might convince some petrolheads to give EVs a try," .
> Whether you like them or not, engine sounds are essential, especially in performance vehicles. They are part of the identity of certain cars — a sort of signature. They can be emotional. They can give a sense of power. But beyond that, they are information. The pitch, volume, and texture of the engine sound provide critical, real-time feedback to the driver about RPM, load, and the car's health.
>
> Some electric automakers are using curated soundscapes (like BMW with Hans Zimmer) or trying to mimic V8s (like Dodge with its "Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust")... Other automakers are simply letting the natural sounds of the electric motors exist. There's nothing wrong with that. However, considering that electric motors produce minimal sounds, which are then trapped inside a metal casing, you rarely hear anything significant, especially in modern vehicles with quiet cabins and even active noise cancellation. For most EVs, this is not a problem, but for a performance electric vehicle, it does feel like something is missing...
>
> Ferrari insists the sound will only be used when "functionally useful" to provide feedback to the driver and will be directly tied to torque requests... The entire system was reportedly developed in-house, giving Ferrari complete control over the vehicle's final acoustic signature... [T]hey are embracing the new technology rather than hiding it. They are making a confident statement that an electric powertrain can be emotionally engaging on its own terms, without having to pretend to be something it's not...
>
> If you prefer a completely silent drive, you can disable it.
Electrek's conclusion? "The purists who were worried that Ferrari would lose its soul in the EV transition should be encouraged by this."
[1] https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/auto/elettrica
[2] https://www.carscoops.com/2025/10/ferraris-first-ev-will-have-around-1000-hp-and-a-unique-sound/
[3] https://www.carscoops.com/2025/09/jaguar-wants-to-keep-the-v8-alive-with-its-new-ev/
[4] https://electrek.co/2025/10/09/ferrari-rejecting-fake-engine-noise-first-ev-opts-authentic-motor-sound/
Old-school option (Score:2)
The car also comes with a deck of cards and box of clothes pins for the [1]wheel spokes [istockphoto.com].
Or... you can just let the car sound like it sounds. If you want it to sound like a V8, get a car w/a V8.
[1] https://media.istockphoto.com/id/472965149/video/playing-card-in-spokes-of-bicycle.mp4?s=mp4-640x640-is&k=20&c=9gWJkG1RmKCS__dLKE_uJN5DcOHxBt7-iyKS09bcTlU=
Re: (Score:2)
The sound of cards, clothes pins & wheel spokes will come for free - as standard. If you want it to sound like a V8 you will have to pay an upgrade fee -- prolly annually.
Realistic engine sounds... (Score:2)
... are entirely possible. Sampler synthesizers have been available since the late 1970s and even the cheapest onboard PC sound chip has been able to do it for 20 years so there is zero not to have realistic engine sounds in 2025. Quite clearly they deliberately use unrealistic sounds - for what reason I have absolutely no idea.
Re: (Score:2)
Why though? One of the best things about EVs is that they are quiet and you sail past the fossils as they grind away desperately trying to keep up.
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When you wrote the fossils were you referring to the fuel type or the car drivers ?
Re: (Score:2)
Because: non-nerdy people are stupid. Plain and simple. They are used to "the way things always were" and in fact, they are ADDICTED to it.
Realism of car culture. (Score:2)
> ... are entirely possible. Sampler synthesizers have been available since the late 1970s and even the cheapest onboard PC sound chip has been able to do it for 20 years so there is zero not to have realistic engine sounds in 2025. Quite clearly they deliberately use unrealistic sounds - for what reason I have absolutely no idea.
When questioning outdated mentalities in car culture, try and remember we’re still dumb enough to measure and market EV power output, in fucking horses.
The average EV owner living in the concrete jungle won’t even know what horseshit smells like in 20 years. Maybe by then someone will ask why.
Re: (Score:2)
They're entirely possible and entirely pointless. Just about every racing game since forever has had engine sounds. Games like Forza, Gran Turismo, Project Cars etc. can all blast out realistic audio. But they're trying to simulate cars that have actual engines. It would be ridiculous to do this for an EV that has a motor, not an engine. Why are people buying an EV if they love ICE so much?
Track-only EV products. (Score:2)
> But if the engine noises are well-executed, argues the EV news site Electrek, "I even think it might convince some petrolheads to give EVs a try,"
Gotta love the casual nature this suggestion for “petrolheads” rolls off a gold-plated tongue, as if we’re talking about the next-gen EV with cutting-edge cost savings priced for the average layperson.
Should be a track-only car. To reinforce the entire fucking point of a Ferrari that can measure full torque in milliseconds. . That Achilles heel in the auto world got its bionic upgrade. And it ain’t for gettin’ groceries with that price tag or maintenance costs.
Why? (Score:2)
Just buy an electric car for its virtues (ridiculous acceleration, speed, silence, low centre of gravity etc) not some stupid "broom broom" noises it makes. It makes me laugh that a week or so back some idiot got ticketed by a cop for "revving" an EV that made loud noises.
while the left paddle adjusts braking intensity... (Score:2)
"while the left paddle adjusts braking intensity"
I must be missing something, when you need to brake, how can braking less quickly be a plus?
Re: (Score:3)
Just a quick thought, but do they mean that it adjusts the intensity of the regenerative braking? The electric cars I have driven (not many) have a "D" mode where there is little to no regenerative braking when you lift off the accelerator and a "B" mode for use in traffic where the "Engine Braking" effect is much stronger. I understand that some cars allow you to adjust how powerful the "B" mode effect is. Perhaps this is what the "left paddle" does?
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It would make sense, Thanks!
Re: (Score:2)
> "while the left paddle adjusts braking intensity"
> I must be missing something, when you need to brake, how can braking less quickly be a plus?
That idiot switch only an F1 driver could love, is the ignorant side effect of assuming a sports car maker of race cars can accurately speak to making a car with justified features outside of an environment pulling 4 Gs when braking.
Don't ask about the mandatory twin fire extinguishers. You’re only supposed to notice the matching leather anyway.
Re: (Score:2)
When asked what the fake engine noises were for, the marketing team couldn't answer with anything meaningful.