Building its new sporty city car on the basis of the latest Fiat 500 equipped with an electric motor, Abarth had to stand out from its competitors: indeed, it is difficult for the Scorpion brand to return to silence after years marked by distinctive features. the sound of its Record Monza exhaust lines.

Here’s the news Abarth 500e was equipped with a sound generator : an exclusive acoustic system designed, developed and integrated by the NVH department (Noise, vibration and harshnessor “Noise, Vibration and Trembling”) from Stellantis in Italy, the same organization that worked on the sound of the historic Abarth exhaust system.

Abarth 500e sound generator: two years of operation

The project required approx two years of workor more than 6000 hours to analyze and create the ideal sound for each phase of movement. NVH specialists were tasked with perfecting the sound, sound design and layouts, as well as the various stages of editing the sound loop.

Part of the testing and sound research of the new Abarth 500e was carried out in a semi-anechoic chamber with high sound insulation, which allows for accurate and reliable noise measurements. In addition, the floor covering of the room makes it possible to reproduce an acoustically reflective surface like a road, since the sound generator is located under the car, in place of the traditional exhaust line.

To recreate the brand’s signature sound, a real Abarth engine was recorded at various stages of operation, from acceleration to braking or even cornering and deceleration. The recordings were then carefully analyzed to highlight all the distinct frequencies that would allow this to happen create a new virtual sound.

Abarth 500e: the most realistic sound reproduction

The result was tested in the studio and on a static vehicle to obtain a visualization as realistic as possible : thanks to the software, the various components of the recorded sound have been adapted to create an optimal sporting experience for the driver. In addition to the typical Abarth sound, a few additional sounds have been added to create a futuristic dimension while adhering to homologation restrictions.

In practice, the sound generator will produce a louder sound as the car picks up speed, with several operating modes: start, idle, acceleration or cruising speed. With this unique sound system, Abarth wants to continue to offer its customers the sound of a sporty heat engine, despite the limitations associated with electric motorization.

For customers of the new Abarth 500e who do not wish to use this sound generator, it is available can be turned off with the instrument panel settings when the car is stationary.