The pops coming from performance cars’ tailpipes on overrun have become so recognizable that they are synonymous with sporty combustion cars. Originally, these sounds were just a byproduct of inefficient combustion in the carburettor era before fuel injection, where unburnt gasses ignited in the exhaust manifold.
Nowadays, these crackles are expected of performance cars, so they’re often artificially generated. According to a new patent application filed with the European Patent Office, Audi wants to keep the combustion spirit alive by injecting fuel into the exhaust manifold in the same way, but controlled so precisely that the sound signature can be customized at will.
Refining Existing Technology
Automakers already introduce additional fuel to the exhaust system to produce the tell-tale pops and bangs that enthusiasts like, so Audi’s system doesn’t seem unusual at first glance, but its approach is more high-tech. It proposes locating fuel injectors at precise locations in the exhaust manifold to inject carefully metered squirts of fuel at precisely timed intervals that will ignite to create orchestrated sound waves and a distinctive aural signature. This aspect makes Audi’s application unique.
Applications
Audi says that its new system:
- Will add to the pleasure of performance motoring
- Can precisely recreate many sound patterns and waves
- Can be programmed to change according to driving mode
- Can be used by other automakers to differentiate their performance models
In theory, competing carmakers would be able to develop and patent their own unique sound signatures that nobody else may copy to create a unique aural signature for their sports cars.
Our Take
Audi’s idea certainly seems intriguing, and once we hear it in practice, the true value and variability of such a system may become apparent. But we don’t know if it’s unique enough to lure in rivals to implement and license the technology, so how many takers can we expect? It’s hard to say, but we’re sure the German automaker will develop the tech for its own cars, so we might be able to look forward to interesting pops, crackles, and bangs from Audi tailpipes soon, keeping the combustion engine alive a little longer in the process.
