Electric cars are brilliant, quick, and quiet, yet clean. Still, for a few, who love the rumble and growl of an old-school internal combustion engine, something seems off. This is where the iconic British maker of cars-Aston Martin-comprehends your pain. Faster acceleration figures isn't all the company is seeking for its electric cars; rather, it is after something profound-the feeling.
But in a world of electric cars, Aston Martin is considering how to keep the emotional connection - so intangible, yet key - that drivers have with their combustion engine car alive. Surprisingly enough, they might be using vibrations to do just that.
The 'Aha!' Moment: Feeling the Resonance
Adrian Hallmark, the chief executive officer at Aston Martin, shared with Top Gear this important moment when he took a Mercedes-AMG EQS for a test drive. And, in fact, he felt something quite remarkable-the way that car conveyed motion through natural resonance, not through synthesized engine noises or the burble of simulated gear changes. And it got him thinking.
"It's not about fake engine sounds. It's about feeling the car move, feeling the energy." Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Aston Martin (paraphrased)
Tuning the Electric Symphony: V12 Inspiration
So, it turned out that it was Aston Martin's hypercar, the Valkyrie-with its glorious V12 engine-which proved the unlikely muse. By studying telemetry from the Valkyrie V12, looking at the frequencies, the rhythms, Aston Martin believes they may be able to bake these vibrational characteristics into the very fabric of their electric cars.
Instead, the sounds of an engine are replaced by subtle vibrations of elements in the car's body and components, oscillating in concert with frequencies reminiscent of a mighty 12-cylinder engine. The car itself would hum-a visceral sensation of driving an ICE beast, now in an electric vehicle.
More Emotion, Less Noise Pollution
This is quite a different approach from simply pumping artificial engine sounds through the speakers. It's about engaging the driver's senses on a deeper, more physical level. It's about recreating the feeling of power and dynamism through tactile feedback, rather than auditory trickery.
This technology is still in development and will make its first appearance in a future Aston Martin electric vehicle. This is a real statement of intent from the brand, confirming that Aston Martin is not merely making electric cars, it's creating electric experiences. They want to make sure that even in the electric era, driving an Aston Martin remains a truly soulful and engaging affair.
