Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer designs driving noises for BMWs

For many, driving a car is more than just getting around, it is a very emotional affair. Our emotions are known to be particularly influenced by sounds and music – it is no coincidence that sound design plays an important role in the film. Not only do the audiences receive additional information via the soundtrack, but are also guided by the emotional landscape of the film. In addition to music, vocalizations of the effects that are not perceived or even present in real life can be heard.

Composer and curator Hans Zimmer and Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound BMW Group

Which brings us back to the electric car. This can’t be heard much, which is good in terms of noise, but also carries a certain risk in urban traffic. So lost engine noise is replaced by an artificially emitting buzzing sound to alert pedestrians when the car approaches them from behind – but what about the so-called occupants of the car? Should they sit in their car devoid of sound waves and let themselves magically go from A to B, deprived of the usual audio and emotional connection with their device? Isn’t it, because driving can be less fun

So that this acceleration can also be heard in the electric car and so can be experienced immediately, individual soundbites are formed – bringing us back to the movie. Sound design has always played a role in building a car as well, because there’s little left to chance when it comes to sound coming, for example, from a car door or exhaust. But in order to design an acoustically complete driving experience, BMW has now enlisted the support of the best movie authors and has driving voices for the BMW i4, version M and BMW iX designed by Hans Zimmer. Musk has created a variety of Hollywood movies, including the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Blade Runner 2049 and many more. And now also the acoustic feedback when driving an electric BMW.