The Abarth 500e: A New Era of Sound Design in Electric Cars

The Abarth 500e has been making waves in the automotive industry with its exclusive Sound Generator function that transforms it into an electric hot hatch with an unexpected combustion engine roar. This unique feature has been created by a dedicated team of sound designers in collaboration with the Sound Design Studio of Stellantis, the same entity that validated the sound of the historic Abarth exhaust system, the Record Monza.

The project, which lasted about two years, involved over 6,000 hours of analyzing and creating the perfect sound for each stage of the driving experience. The technical director followed the management phase of the project. At the same time, NVH specialists worked on sound improvement, focusing on both the creative and technological parts of the sound creation process, following the different stages from software development to sound creation.

Part of the tests and sound studies were performed in a semi-anechoic chamber, where the current sound of the Abarth petrol engine was recorded during all the different phases of the driving experience: acceleration, deceleration, braking, fast cornering, and much more. Specific sound calibrations were also carried out to create a new sound in a virtual matrix enriched by additional tones.

The matrix has been tested offline in the studio and on the static car through various iterations and setups to get the perfect blend of output. Thanks to the software, the matrix adapts the various sound components to obtain the best immersive result for the driver. Additional sounds have been layered onto the matrix to blend the historic Abarth sound with the futuristic feel found on the new Abarth 500e.

The Sound Generator System is directly proportional to the car's driving speed, and the sound is processed differently through the external rear loudspeaker. From IDLE to SIGNATURE, the Sound Generator offers a range of sounds that maintain the typical timbre of Abarth's internal combustion engines.