MotoringFile Confirmed: F56 MINI Cooper S Uses Active Sound to Enhance Engine Noise

Discussion in 'MINIs in Other Media' started by JoeClubman, Mar 26, 2014.

  1. JoeClubman

    JoeClubman New Member

    Mar 31, 2009
    3,074
    197
    0
    Ratings:
    +197 / 0 / -0
    A few years ago I rode shotgun in a R55 Clubman and then a BMW 630d with a BMW engineer as he demonstrated something they called “Active Sound”. In the 630d the idea was to make it sound like a 650i. It worked… almost flawlessly. In the MINI we sampled what they call the “sound […]

    (visit MotoringFile for the full article)[​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    More...
     
  2. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Sep 29, 2009
    12,713
    7,659
    113
    Ex-Owner (Retired) of a custom metal fab company.
    Columbus, Ohio
    Ratings:
    +7,913 / 1 / -0
    ""The system is tied to the engine speed and accurately reproduces engine notes as they are happening.""

    Nooooooooooooooo.......:cryin:

    Wonder if it will reproduce the famous "Death Rattle"
     
  3. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    Cool--fake engine noises to go along with the fake hood slot. Yep, the MINI truly remains a pure drivers car!!
     
  4. Z06_Pilot

    Z06_Pilot Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Jun 12, 2013
    331
    263
    63
    Network Design Engineer
    Columbus, OH
    Ratings:
    +263 / 0 / -0
    The F56 has a fake hood slot? On prior MCS models, my understanding has always been it was there are on the S and JCW models to get additional cold air in, and to help release heat.

    My R56 hood slot is open for air intake(unlike, say the hood scoop you can order for a Mustang GT).

    I have never been a fan of fake scoops and "pretend" gadgets on cars....I hope this is not true

    Otherwise, I may have to figure out how to fit a midnight black Justa hood on my JCW :mad2:
     
  5. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    It's true.
     
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    On the R56 you could make it functional by adding a DDM intake and use the air to move it to the intake.

    Mostly it is just like the stickers on the GP 2 they do nothing.
     
  7. mattsch1981

    mattsch1981 New Member

    Dec 26, 2012
    41
    20
    0
    Mechanical Designer
    East Norriton, PA
    Ratings:
    +20 / 0 / -0
    The hood scoop on Gen 2 cars is pretty much worthless and mostly for aesthetics. Look at the Goodwood edition. It has the Cooper S turbo engine, but it has the scoopless hood from the MINI D.
     
  8. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    The slot was functional on the R53. MINI kept it on the R56 and the F56 to help differentiate the base from the S visually, simple as that. It's just one more thing to melt on the 2nd and third generations...
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    #9 Dave.0, Mar 26, 2014
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2014
    Fake sound for a fake MINI. :p:arf::p:lol:

    This may be the next new MINI.......

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Gil-galad

    Gil-galad Club Coordinator

    May 19, 2009
    1,178
    431
    83
    Male
    Decorah, IA
    Ratings:
    +435 / 0 / -0
    Give me one of those '78 CGE Pacers with the 6.6L V8 any time. There would be no need for enhancement of the engine noises. :wink:
     
  11. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    Yea BMW started doing this a year or two ago. On the M5 I think.
    I won't get started! Posers! :mad2:
     
  12. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Oh its a BMW not a MINI since it was confirmed that the motor and turbo is identical to a 328I so being in a MINI its dialed back to golf cart status.

    A 328i makes 200+ torq and 240HP the new MINI not so much. :confused:
     
  13. Z06_Pilot

    Z06_Pilot Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Jun 12, 2013
    331
    263
    63
    Network Design Engineer
    Columbus, OH
    Ratings:
    +263 / 0 / -0
    I hang my head in shame.....at least there are open slots in it, so I'm going to pretend it's functional-will allow me to sleep at night...

    I used to have an RX-7 Turbo II, and when I would auto-x it, folks would want me to pop the hood, assuming the hood scoop was fake. the back of scoop sat right on top of the huge intercooler...a very nice factory setup.

    Their next comments typically were, "oh there is not way that can be legal" :biggrin5:
     
  14. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    Well, it IS functional, just not in the way most hood scoops are...It gets hot enough in there to melt it, and it's just the right size to fit a reasonably sized "Lean Cuisine"; slide one in the slot, by the time you're at work, it's piping hot and ready for consumption.
     
  15. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
    Staff Member Articles Moderator Supporting Member

    Jul 31, 2009
    11,164
    6,170
    113
    Male
    Ratings:
    +7,876 / 10 / -3
    Well I know that when I'm up on red line that noise my Mini is making ain't coming from the speakers!
     
  16. cct1

    cct1 Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 5, 2009
    3,378
    3,368
    113
    Ratings:
    +3,369 / 0 / -0
    It's all part of the European Pedestrian laws. Instead of making cars go faster, you now have to make cars sound faster; a car that sounds fast but drives slow does much less damage to a pedestrian than a car that sounds slow and drives fast.
     
  17. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    Don't be slamming the Pacer racer Dave. :p

    Any car that Races & Rallies is OK with me. :wink:

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 4, 2009
    25,021
    13,497
    113
    Burbs of Philly, PA
    Ratings:
    +14,644 / 10 / -4
    Would it be much easier to educate European Pedestrians that Big Heavy metal things with rubber rollers on the wide black sidewalks can kill you?

    European Service Announcement:
    "European Pedestrians please stay on the sidewalk and don't walk on the black pavement because you could be killed.

    Thank you for your time now have a cup of tea." :D:ihih::lol:

    Simple, problem solved now make cars that look good again.
     
  19. DneprDave

    DneprDave Well-Known Member
    Supporting Member

    Oct 23, 2010
    2,952
    1,500
    113
    Engineer
    Pacific NW
    Ratings:
    +1,721 / 0 / -0
    I took the "grill" out of my hood scoop, it took about five minutes. It now has a functional hood scoop.
    grillessscoop.jpg

    Dave
     
  20. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
    19,424
    10,031
    113
    Retired old fart
    Hooterville Ohio USA
    Ratings:
    +11,656 / 2 / -0
    Not all cars look as bad as the F'n56. Those regulations are not an excuse for a homely faced car. :frown2:
     

Share This Page