The emotional connection we form with our vehicles is deeply personal and rooted in the sensory experiences we have behind the wheel. Electric cars, with their whisper-quiet engines, may be the future of mobility, but to many drivers, they still feel… empty. The silence that once symbolized progress now risks dulling the emotional experience behind the wheel.
BMW’s HypersonX: A New Kind of Sound Design
In response, a growing number of automakers are asking a new kind of question: What if sound could bring electric cars to life? BMW’s latest attempt to answer that is called HypersonX, a dynamic soundscape designed for its upcoming Newe Klasse models. And it might be one of the most ambitious EV sound design projects yet.
The Sound of BMW’s Neue Klasse
Set to debut in 2025, HypersonX features
- 43 custom-crafted audio signals
- That shift depending on how you drive
Developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, it uses spatial modulation to make acceleration feel like you’re moving through layers of sound, not just space.
“In both Personal and Sport Mode, the drive sounds focus on the essentials and are inspired by tones from nature and structures from art and science,” said Renzo Vitale, BMW’s Creative Director of Sound Design. Instead of trying to mimic gas engines, HypersonX aims to build a new kind of emotional connection through warmth, precision and restraint.
There’s even a welcome chime composed of voices from BMW employees in their native languages, designed to introduce a touch of humanity and joy the moment you enter the cabin.
The Race for Meaningful Sound
Gas-powered cars tell stories through sound — think Ferrari’s screaming V12, the howl of a Porsche flat-six, the low growl of a Dodge V8. These are more than noises, they’re feedback loops, branding tools and sources of joy. EVs, on the other hand, are often whisper-quiet; what they gain in refinement, they lose in personality. The risk? That drivers start to feel disconnected from the vehicles they once loved.
Examples of Sound Innovation
- Dodge’s Charger Daytona EV features a 126-decibel artificial roar designed to make EV muscle cars feel as raw as their gas-powered ancestors.
- Hyundai‘s Ioniq 5 N includes synthetic rev-matching and downshift pops.
- Nissan’s R32 GT-R EV concept features synthesized engine audio modeled on the iconic RB26DETT.
The Future of Sound Design
BMW reportedly generated more than 9 million sound iterations before refining them into HypersonX’s final voice. That’s not just engineering — it’s curation. This new era of automotive sound isn’t about replicating the past; it’s about inventing something that resonates. Sound is no longer an engine byproduct — it’s a storytelling tool, branding asset and sensory bridge between people and machines. The question remains: can sound save electric cars from feeling boring? BMW and the rest of the brands above certainly hope so, but only time will tell.
