It’s Oh So Quiet: Next-Generation of AMG Sports Cars to be Quieter
To comply with new regulations, AMG will be turning the volume of their exhaust note down.
In news we hate to report, AMG has announced that future generations of their sports cars will have a decidedly quieter roar. The decision was ultimately out of their hands. Europe has enacted new sound restrictions. So, to be in compliance, the automaker will be forced to turn down the volume of the exhaust note.
Bastian Bogenschutz, head of product planning for Mercedes-AMG compact cars, talked to Motoring about how the company approached the upcoming changes.
“It’s coming from the European regulations,” said Bogenschutz. “We can [design specific exhausts] but it’s too expensive for every market to do it, it’s pretty difficult.” The new regulations will effect cars in a number of markets including Australia.
Of course, this means that as Mercedes-AMG makes changes to adhere to the noise laws abroad, U.S. markets will be effected. Merc simply can’t build different sports car platoforms for different countries.
The first cars that have been altered are the 2020 Mercedes-AMG A45 S and 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S. Two cars that have been loved not only for their performance, but for their oh-so-satisfying sound.
Bogenschutz says Mercedes-AMG had utilized sound enhancement inside the cabin to channel the original car’s tasty notes.
“The regulations were getting pretty difficult for the sound to just come from the exhaust system,” he explained. “So we added the AMG pure performance sound, there we take the real sound from the exhaust system, the pulsation of the real sound and move it inside the car. It works together with the exhaust system.”
AMG might have to keep the sound down, but with the world’s most powerful four-cylinder series production engine under the hood, it won’t exactly be a quiet ride. The 2.0-liter inline-four produces 416 horsepower, with an output of 208.9 horsepower per liter.
The quieter cars will no doubt be tuned and tinkered with back in the States. We have no doubt that those wanting maximum volume will be able to do so. And it will be interesting to see how they will achieve it.
Our take is while it will be a bummer losing that guttural, throaty note, we know it will still have a solid Mercedes sound. And more importantly, it will still perform like an AMG should.
What do you think of a quieter AMG sports car? Let us know in the comments, or sound off in the forums.
Photos: Mercedes-Benz
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