On the trail of BMW's sound design – exploring the soundscapes of the BMW i4
When we think of electric cars, one of the first things that comes to our mind is probably silence. But all electric vehicles have to have a sound due to safety reasons and the 2017 introduced EU regulation. So this opens up a completely new era for automotive companies – and also a way for them to position themselves through sound design as leaders in the e-mobility industry. Creating soundscapes help making the sustainable mobility experience even more intense, even more present and even more distinctive.
We followed the invite of BMW and went on the trail of their sound design for their all-electric cars in Milan. No other than Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound at the BMW Group has brought us closer to the topic of sound. He is composing the car sound of the future, not only for the acoustics in the interior, also the driving sound – for BMW vehicles, MINI and Rolls-Royce.
“Sound is a fundamental part of the emotional driving experience in a BMW. With the unparalleled experience and creativity of Hans Zimmer to count on, we are creating a unique acoustic character to our electric vehicles.” – Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of BMW Group Design
The BMW IconicSound Electric and the collaboration with Hans Zimmer
With the BMW IconicSounds Electric, BMW brings new and emotionally rich soundscapes into the brand’s model line-up. They have been created as part of a collaboration between the BMW Group and Grammy and Academy Award-winning film score composer Hans Zimmer.
The acoustic perception of cars has always been high up the priority list for BMW. The company’s acoustic engineers have been working on artificially generated sounds for electric models since 2009 to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists are alerted to approaching electric vehicles.
The BMW IconicSound Electric are available in the BMW i4 and iX and the complete sound spectrum will be also available in the i7. We can’t wait to experience the soundscape in the i7, which we will of course share with you here.
With the BMW IconicSound Electric, the driver has the option to select between various modes: Personal, Sport and Efficient. Expressive and Relax are new My Modes that further extend BMW’s distinctive soundscape. The intensity and frequency of the drive sound are based on the position of the accelerator and the driving situation, creating an individually customised sound profile for each My Mode.
Of course, the silence of electric driving generates a whole new level of comfort but the absence of sound als takes something away from the driving experience. The BMW IconicSounds Electric were developed with the driver’s reaction to them in mind and also with just the right subtlety and elegance to offer the driver an authentic and emotionally engaging experience based on their relationship with their car and how they interact with it.
We experiences the soundscape in the BMW i4 driving from Milan to beautiful Lake Maggiore. We experienced the three My Modes: Personal, Sport and Efficient. Summing up, especially the Sport Mode has creating a distinctive and emotional driving experience. It’s sheer driving pleasure not only in the BMW i4 but also in the BMW iX, which incorporates all five modes.
The creative process of sound development
The creative process of making these sounds starts with Hans Zimmer and the BMW Group, who develop a shared understanding about what technological or emotional goals need to be achieved for their new soundscapes. Together they consider all potential emotions that may come from each melody element – often using traditional instruments but in ways which allow them redefine how those resources can offer something novel when it comes to creating music.
When the newly designed sounds are ready, they are integrated into a BMW and being tested to obtain real-time feedback. The finished soundtrack is road tested in the respective model to deliver a precise emotional match to the various My Modes and driving situations.
Hans Zimmer and Renzo Vitale do not only follow traditional methods of instrumentation, they also find great inspiration in unexpected places. For example: they snap guitar strings or hurl objects against a wall to see what unpredictable sound this makes. In another phase of development, Hans Zimmer first creates a three-minute suite. He and Vitale extract elements from it in order to focus on something entirely unexpected that provides the basis for a completely new composition and way of expressing sound.
The collaboration with Hans Zimmer definitely sets BMW apart and makes them a leader in sound design for electric cars in the automotive industry. We can't wait to see how the future of sound design will lead even further.
Pictures: BMW / Enes Kucevic for ellectric
Text: Britta Reineke