Corvette EV Will Make Its Own Unique Sound While Driving

After giving the Lyriq and Hummer EV distinctive sounds, GM is working on one for the Corvette EV.

For traditional automotive enthusiasts, nothing can beat the sound of a V8 – its deep rumble and distinctive tone is simply second to none, and the same can be said for a variety of other gas-powered engines out there in the world. It’s also a big part of what makes the Corvette a Corvette, as the V8 as been a staple in America’s sports car nearly since its inception. However, times, they are a changing, and a Corvette EV has already been confirmed by GM, though that doesn’t mean it’s going to roll around without making some sort of sound.

As General Motors engineer Jay Kapadia recently revealed to the Detroit Free Press, the forthcoming Corvette EV will sound like a Corvette, though it isn’t entirely clear what that means. “With EVs being quiet, we have this beautiful opportunity to create brand identity with sound,” Kapadia said. “Every brand will have its own sound in which the customer will know it’s that brand and establish an emotional connection with the vehicle.”

A classically trained musician, Kapadia came to the U.S. and wound up working with Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Shakira in the recording industry. GM recruited him to work on its sound systems back in 2016, but he was later promoted to a new position – the head of Acoustic Vehicle Alert Systems (AVAS) for EVs, an important task given the fact that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires those vehicles to emit some sort of sound when traveling at speeds of 20 mph or less to make their presence known to pedestrians, cyclists, and other passers by.

What makes Kapadia’s sounds unique is that he tailors them to the specific vehicle’s brand identify. “The moment you have a Hummer passing by you, even with your eyes closed, you’ll know it’s a Hummer,” Kapadia said. “The moment you have a Lyriq drive by, you will know it’s a Lyriq. It goes a little technical. But I can’t just put a beautiful hip-hop or Hollywood or musical, classical sound on it. We want to make sure the sound is pleasant, yet alerting, not annoying.”

After designing these sounds for the Lyriq and Hummer EV, Kapadia has set his sights on future GM models, including, of course, the Corvette EV. It will certainly be interesting to see what he defines as the signature, defining sound for such an iconic machine, but it is also nice to know that we’ll apparently be able to know precisely what it is by sound alone.

Photos: Chevrolet

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