Mercedes CEO says he's a convert to fake V8 sounds in EVs: 'I was like a born-again Christian'
Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has endorsed the use of synthetic engine sounds and haptic feedback in the company's new electric performance vehicles. The system aims to replicate the sensory experience of a combustion-powered V8 engine to appeal to driving enthusiasts.
Why it matters
This highlights how legacy luxury automakers are attempting to bridge the gap between traditional performance expectations and the quiet, smooth nature of electric powertrains.
EVs are normally very quiet. Mercedes' CEO thinks the legacy automaker found the right V8-ish solution. Getty Images/Business Insider Mercedes-Benz's new sport-trim EVs will get a sensory experience that mimics gas cars. Car seats will shake. Engine noises will burble from speakers. The company's CEO called the system the "best V8 I'd ever driven." Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has found religion in synthetic engine noise. He said his conversion came when he drove the new electric version of the AMG CLA 45, Mercedes' performance sedan. It uses artificial sounds and sensations to mimic a combustion-powered car. "I was like a born-again Christian," he told UK car enthusiast publication Autocar . "It was the best V8 I'd ever driven: It had all the feeling of a V8 but with more power and torque."
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