Sound has never been a hotter topic in the world of cars than it has been in the past decade. From the introduction of hybrid and electric vehicles to even the more muted soundtrack of modern F1 cars, the noise cars make has become a major talking point.
As emissions laws have become ever stricter over the years, carmakers have been required to make engines more efficient and that has inevitably led to making them quieter.
While the introduction of the electric vehicle removes the sound altogether, leading many driving enthusiasts feeling disappointed.
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In this article we'll look at some key questions about the sound of cars and try to answer the biggest one of all - what are the best sounding cars of all time?
What makes a car sound good?
Obviously, this is a subjective question and therefore impossible to answer with certainty. But in the same way some cars look more beautiful than others thanks to their proportions or stance, so too are there key traits that make a car sound good.
The sound a car makes is decided by a variety of factors around engine configuration, exhaust design and how air is fed into the engine (turbocharging and supercharger) and even details like crankshaft design and cylinder firing order.
While most motorists prefer a quieter car with less engine noise invading the cabin, for enthusiasts the common traits include volume, a clear sound and typically, high revs.
But even within those parameters there is a huge array of personal preference, from high-revving European-style V8 engines to deeper, throatier V8s from American-style muscle cars, to the unique tone of a Porsche flat-six or a turbocharged hot hatch.
How have car sounds changed over time?
Classic cars tended to sound more evocative than their modern day equivalents, as older designs were less refined and therefore tend to be louder with less interference to dull the mechanical noise.
By contrast, modern cars are often much quieter to make for a more refined driving experience, while even many performance cars are more muted thanks to current exhaust and design trends, such as turbocharging and hybridisation.
Ferrari is a prime example of this trend. It's older models, such as the F355, F430 and 458 had high-revving V8 engines that were beloved by owners and fans, whereas the latest 296 GTB is powered by a smaller capacity, turbocharged V6 engine that sounds very different and often quieter.
As we move into the electric car era, carmakers have struggled to know exactly what sound to produce. While many have opted for as-close-to-silence as possible, others have looked to offer artificial sound to enhance the driving experience.
Is car sound a priority for modern cars?
Sound is most definitely a priority for carmakers, especially for the high-end manufacturers famous for their loud, dramatic-sounding vehicles. In a recent interview with Australian media Lamborghini Chief Technical Officer Rouven Mohr explained the importance of sound and its role in making an 'emotional' experience for its drivers.
"If you speak about Lambo, the brand DNA has to be always the maximum emotionality that you can have in the segment.
"This is our DNA, therefore, it starts with the sound. But not only [sound] it's also about the vibration that you feel, the shifting perception, how the car is rotating in the corners," Mohr said.
Chasing that emotion and specific sound only available from a high-revving engine, Mohr and his team designed an all-new V8 engine with hybrid assistance to ensure it can both rev to 10,000rpm while retaining low-end performance.
At the lower end of the market there are an increasing number of performance cars that feature 'sound enhancing' systems, either mechanical or digital (playing sound through the car's speakers), to make them louder as
Best sounding supercar - GMA T.50
Gordon Murray has designed some of the best cars of the past 40 years - from the McLaren F1 to F1 McLarens. But when he decided to build his own car, with his new Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) company, he insisted on a V12 engine.
That's because, in addition to offering plenty of power, V12 cars are typically amongst the best sounding engines. The GMA T.50 has a 4.0-litre V12 designed by GMA and famous motor racing engine builders, Cosworth, and features no turbochargers, superchargers or hybrid assistance.
It revs to 12,100rpm and makes 485kW/467Nm and sounds like an early 1990s F1 car.
Obviously there are other great sounding supercars, as this class tends to attract the most evocative engines. So honourable mentions should go to the V12 Ferrari 12Cilindri and the iconic V10-powered Lexus LFA.
Best sounding sports car - Chevrolet Corvette Z06
This is arguably the most difficult category to declare a definitive winner as there are so many different types of sports cars - V6, V8, turbocharged, supercharged, naturally aspirated and a variety of combinations.
A strong argument can be made for the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, with its unique flat-six engine configuration and race-bred performance that means it can rev to 9000rpm.
But we've opted for the Corvette Z06, the track-focused version of the American sports car. That's because it's powered by a 5.5-litre V8 that features a race-inspired flat-plane crankshaft which allows it to rev harder and sound more like a European sports car than a traditional American V8.
It has that high-revving scream you'd expect from a Ferrari or Lamborghini, not a Chevy, and sounds absolutely fantastic sitting right behind your head.
Best sounding muscle car - Ford Mustang GT
While Chevrolet went Euro-spec for the Corvette Z06, Ford has stayed true to its roots with the Mustang GT. Its 5.0-litre V8 has that classic V8 bark when it starts, rumble at low revs and growl when you unleash its power.
At a time when downsizing, turbocharging and other methods of making engines more efficient (but less evocative) are becoming more popular even in the muscle car/sports sedan market, Ford has stuck to its roots and the result is one of the best sounding cars in the world right now.
Best sounding hot hatch - Audi RS3 Sportback
When Audi first introduced its now-iconic 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbocharged engine back in the 1970s, it was a much simpler time. The fantastic sound produced by the inline five immediately became a signature for the brand.
A big part of its aural appeal is the firing sequence of each cylinder, with its 1-2-4-5-3 order producing a distinctive sound.
However, over the years, as the engine has been refined and enhanced to meet modern power and efficiency demands, the sound the driver hears has been reduced.
So, for the latest RS3 Sportback (and sedan) Audi introduced an adaptive active exhaust, which features a flap inside the exhaust system to unleash more noise when needed.
It works and it keeps that unique five-cylinder sound alive and thriving in this modern era of increasingly quiet cars.
Best sounding affordable car - Hyundai i30 N
Snap, crackle and pop is the official slogan for Rice Bubbles, but it could easily apply to the i30 N. Hyundai understood the assignment when it designed its first hot hatch, ensuring the sound experience matched the performance and driving character.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is paired to 'N exhaust system' that provides the rally-style pops and crackles when you're off throttle and a nice throaty burble when you accelerate.
At $50,000 (plus on-road costs) it doesn't quite slip beneath the under-50K target you might set for 'affordable' but in modern hot hatch terms, the i30 N remains a relative steal - especially given how good it sounds.
Best sounding electric car - Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
What?! An electric car with sound? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is really unlike anything else on sale today.
The brand took its performance to another level beyond the i30 N, with its 448kW/740Nm supercar-beating dual-motor electric powertrain, but its motto of 'never just drive' extends to ensuring the driving experience is fun and emotional.
And that means its N cars need to have sound. So while the Ioniq 5 N will drive around in whisper-quiet electric mode, when you're feeling like a more spirited drive you can hit the 'N Active Sound+' button.
This is an artificial soundtrack that provides three different audio options (played through internal and external speakers) that are integrated to the speed of the car, so the faster you go, the louder it gets.
There are three so-called 'sound profiles' to choose from - 'Ignition' (which sounds like a petrol engine effect), 'Evolution' (an electric-style concept) and 'Supersonic' (inspired by a fighter jet).
While it's a clever and fun system, it demonstrates that if you're going to add artificial noise to an EV make it car sounds because while Ignition is great, Evolution and Supersonic sound too gimmicky.
Best sounding ute - Ford Ranger Raptor
No Australian list of the best sounding car on sale today is complete without a ute. Unfortunately the Aussie-made HSV Maloo R8 is long gone and can't make our list, despite its amazing sounding V8.
Instead, the current honour goes to (what else) the Ranger Raptor and its turbocharged V6 petrol engine. While most utes are hamstrung with turbo-diesel engines that sound uninspiring, the Raptor has a V6 bark that would make you think you're in a sports car if you closed your eyes (obviously not while driving).
It remains the benchmark in the ute segment, not just for its performance but the way it makes you feel and the sound is a big reason for that.
