So the all-electric Ford Focus EV is landing stateside in late 2011 to snub its nose at the likes of the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i MiEV with its utterly conventional name that’s not even an acronym.
Now Ford is asking its most important shareholders (the general public) what the Focus EV should sound like, as there are members of the world community that think silent cars are a danger to the blind and the deaf.
Of course, those same persons probably think video games lead to criminal activity, alcohol to spousal abuse and atheism to the downfall of western civilisation, but that’s neither here nor there.
There are four choices which Ford has unimaginatively labeled A, B, C and D. I will label them Laser Eye Surgery, Vacuuming, Meet George Jetson and Thunderbirds Are Go.
You can listen to all four sounds on YouTube and then comment on your favourite on Facebook (alas, you must “like” Ford Electric Vehicles first). Alternatively, you could just listen to them here and rag on them anonymously in our comments section! It’s the Social Media Way™.
By Tristan Hankins
28 Comments:
I love the fact that it is silent, and I'm sick of those stupid people who want it to be otherwise. Parents, we have parks where your children can play versus the street; the blind and deaf have been coexisting in our society for how long now?
For me it would be B.
Unbelievable that we are stalling evolution with potential insipid regulations requiring a "simulated" sound. No wonder the rest of the world thinks the US is ignorant.
When I was a kid the ace of spades held in place with a clothes peg in contact with the spokes of my bicycle was a great sound.
Or what about a speaker blasting out formula 1 engine revs.
Or the moan of a timber wolf in heat.
Or attach a whoopy cushion to the shocks.
Or just enjoy the silence.
Why the hell is there no fifth choice? This biases the findings to a noise laden solution.
E = Silent
D sounds like a score from a horror movie
Can't see how the deaf are going to be affected, they couldn't hear the noisy cars in the first place!!!
Cars should be like bullets, you never hear the one that gets you.
FORD is obviously listening to 10 year olds who are moaning about lack of sound in Electric cars. No wonder... no wonder...
Looking at that grille I'd say Ford are having a bit of seller's remorse over offloading Aston Martin.
Either B or C for me.
The Aston for the Poor.hahaha..... no.
The sound of the tires on the road are enough for me... thanks!
I'm sure a silent car is not as dangerous to the deaf than a noisy car would be but anyway... it's scientifically proved that blind people can ear sounds that persons with normal vision don't even imagine exist.
Besides that, the sounds Ford proposes just sound stupid IMO.
tire noice alone should be plenty. Wish they put that grille on all the Focus. It looks great.
Laughing my guts out listening to those sounds. Pure comedy.
Put stones in the hubcaps,
FURD.
B sounds more like a real "analog" car. Everything else is just weird and unnatural.
Ferrari V-12
Definitely B. It just sounds like tire noise or low volume white noise. The others (especially A) sound like an alien spacecraft taking off from a 50's-60's B-movie. B is just random noise, the others are trying to be something they shouldn't (somebody's idea of what an electric engine sounds like). Can you imagine listening to all of those whining little cars running around? Yikes! Or they could have a sense of humor and give them the sound track from the flying cars from the Jetsons! If your to young to know what I mean, just Google "Jetsons".
It shouldn't be a noise that increases in volume or pitch, it should just be a random, steady sound such as white noise. that would be much less irritating.
Will it frighten deer or attract dogs?
B or D.... NO WAY for A... that is just creepy!
And to those of you who see no problem to silent vehicles... I will laugh when you step in front of one.
I HATE FURDS.
This argument is irrelevant. The idea of taking a fun, safe, and economical Ford Focus and abandoning our friend, the internal combustion engine, for tons of unnecessary batteries to please elitist celebrities, backwards European politicians, and the rest of the Flat Earth Society is nothing short of absurd. Kill the EV, we want the ST.
Well A sounds like a spaceship... could be cool!
B sounds like an ICE... Yuch!
D is to quiet and too high pitched.
I think C is my choice.
YES F1 Engine sounds! Id buy that! Why not make it so you can pick sounds from the dealer, this will be in the future I believe!
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