The unique sound of a Ferrari is a hallmark of the lineup on par with that famous shade of red and the world-renowned prancing pony logo. An auditory fingerprint, the Ferrari engine note separates it from the rest of the world’s automobiles. The joyous cry as a Ferrari engine roars to life is one of the best parts about being behind the wheel, and it will sound different on the road than it does on the track.
Since the advent of electric cars, automakers have been looking for a way to cover up the awkward silence that comes from a vehicle without an engine — leading some manufacturers to create engine notes artificially. Not Ferrari.
Francesco Carosone, Ferrari’s Senior Acoustic Engineer, put it simply: “Ferrari has an authentic sound other car companies want to create artificially.” Rather than replicate an exciting sound through an amplifier or a speaker, the sound of a Ferrari is derived from acoustic consideration during engine production, including intelligent tuning and design.
The process of balancing exhaust and intake, tuning sound quality, can be incredibly time consuming and expensive, but that changed in 2013. A unique Brüel & Kjær NVH Simulator now allows Carosone to test engine notes digitally, through virtual prototypes. The result is precision tuning that would be impossible with purely physical testing.
Scuderia Car Parts counted down their top 5 Ferrari engine sounds. Your mileage may vary, but it’s hard to argue against their top choices:
Whether you’re hearing a track car like the Ferrari F2002 or a road-ready GTC4Lusso, you’ll always have an iconic sound. Turn heads around Chicago with that unmistakable roar so other drivers can see the blur of your Ferrari as you leave them in the rearview.
If you can’t wait to get behind the wheel and hear what your next Ferrari sounds like, Ferrari has an audio library to tide you over. Questions about the Ferrari engine note? Worried that your vehicle’s engine sounds a bit off? Contact us at Ferrari Lake Forest. We can help you find the right Ferrari and ensure yours roars in tune for the foreseeable future.
Lake Bluff sits in the middle of some of the finest hospitality Chicago’s suburbs have to offer, and it also happens to be home to one of the largest indoor Ferrari displays in the country. If you’re planning a weekend around Chicago North Shore luxury hotels, pair your stay with a stop at Ferrari Lake…
A Ferrari is never just another car on a used lot, and evaluating one has to reflect that. Whether you’re comparing a 360 with 40,000 miles against a low-mileage 430, or trying to decide if a private-party deal is worth the risk, the fundamentals stay the same. You need to put mileage in context, verify…
Schedule a Ferrari pre-track inspection early enough to address tires, brakes, fluids, warning lights, and other mechanical concerns before the event. Read the organizer’s rules carefully because helmet standards, convertible requirements, sound limits, technical inspections, and passing procedures vary by event. Bring the car back to road-ready condition afterward with a careful tire, brake, fluid,…
