1987 Suzuki Samurai Jx Se Sport Utility 2-door 1.3l on 2040-cars

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Pentagram aims to cut through the noise of EV sound design

What does an electric vehicle sound like when it goes from 0 to 60, when it signals a turn, when it’s powered down for the night? EV motors have fewer parts and are therefore incredibly silent, which presents safety concerns for drivers who recognize speed by sound and pedestrians who canÂ’t hear an approaching vehicle.  In 2019, regulators in Europe and the U.S. began requiring EVs to have warning sounds, but they left it up to the car manufacturers to choose those sounds. Many have taken the new legislation as an opportunity to not only create a branded sound, but also to stir up some marketing hype by enlisting famous musicians to compose the noise of an electric engine. Hans Zimmer created the Blade Runner-esque sound concept for BMWÂ’s i4 electric sedan, and, strangely, Linkin Park is creating EV sounds for BMW.  Sound designer Yuri Suzuki, a partner at design consultancy firm Pentagram, recently conducted a research project into the crucial role electric car sound has on a userÂ’s safety, enjoyability, communication and brand recognition, out of which he developed a range of car sounds. Suzuki says that while some automakers have chosen beautiful and interesting car sound designs, chasing celebrity clout is not the way to go when designing the sound behind serious machines.  “We really have to design carefully based on the psychological effects on a human,” Suzuki told TechCrunch. “ItÂ’s all about the relation between the human being and the machine itself.” Suzuki says smart sound design can help ease the difference between human and car by providing a shared language. Based on surveys he conducted, Suzuki came up with two new skeuomorphic electric engine sounds as well as adaptive sounds that reflect the time of day and the location of the drive.  His engine sounds are reminiscent of internal combustion engine revs, providing both drivers and pedestrians with a recognizable indication of speed increasing and decreasing. The sounds are placed at different pitches: one quite low, like a spaceship taking off; the other a bit higher, like a hovercraft vertically ascending. Audi, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover have also chosen to make futuristic copies of gasoline engines for some of their new electric vehicles.  SuzukiÂ’s sound design also includes in-car sounds, like powering on, turn signals or horn honking, that use AI to adapt to the time of day.

Future Classic: 1996-1998 Suzuki X-90

SUVs are absolute cash cows, and because of that, automakers don’t often take risks in their design and execution. Oh, sure, the occasional Evoque Coupe or Murano CrossCabriolet slips through the cracks, but by and large most SUVs have four doors, two or three rows of seats and a hatchback for your cargo. But in the 1990s, carmakers were still experimenting with SUVs, so things occasionally got weird, and nothing embodied weirdness quite like the Suzuki X-90. Half SUV, half coupe, half roadster (three halves – see, super weird), the X-90 was all about fun in the sun. It was wild and had lots of personality. SuzukiÂ’s liÂ’l guy was unlike anything else on the road. Why is the Suzuki X-90 a future classic? The X-90 was SuzukiÂ’s followup to the ill-fated Samurai – you know, the SUV that was “easier to flip than a toilet seat,” according to reports from the time. The X-90 was much safer, with standard features like driver and passenger airbags, as well as antilock brakes, but it still fully embodied the SamuraiÂ’s have-fun-anywhere ethos. “Cute utes” were a growing subset of small SUVs in the ‘90s, and wow did the X-90 fully lean into this demeanor. It was tiny – only slightly longer and taller than a modern Fiat 500 – with two doors, two seats, a removable T-top roof and a sedan-like trunk with a spoiler for added flourish. Its 6.3 inches of ground clearance gave it a tiny-tough trucky stance, and you could get it in vibrant colors like purple and teal. It even had seat fabric that looked like ‘90s jazz cups. So cool. What is the ideal example of the Suzuki X-90? Since it was a low-volume product that was only sold for a couple of years (adding to its scarcity today), there werenÂ’t many differences between the X-90s that came to the U.S. All of ‘em were powered by a 1.6-liter inline-four engine with a blistering 95 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. Buyers could choose between rear- and four-wheel drive, as well as a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. Going for the stick-shift gave you a slight edge on fuel economy, with the EPA rating both RWD and 4WD X-90s at 24 mpg combined, compared to 22 mpg with the automatic. Considering its core mission was all about having a whale of a time, the smartest way to spec an X-90 is with the five-speed manual and four-wheel drive.

Suzuki teases iK-2 and iM-4 concepts set to debut at Geneva

While it may be true that Suzuki no longer sells its models in the US, the Japanese brand is still motoring along and quite popular in the rest of the world, including Europe. The Japanese company just teased two concepts to premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, but hasn't revealed much about them yet. First up is the iM-4 concept (pictured above), which Suzuki describes as an "iconic mini 4x4." Given that the next-gen Jimny (better known in the US as the Samurai) is supposed to go on sale in 2017, this vehicle might be the first future glimpse of the little offroader. The company reportedly wants to keep the new model close in spirit to the current one, while updating its aging design. The iK-2 concept (right inset) is a bit more mysterious. Suzuki calls it "an ideal compact sized car." Based on the brand's European range, it could preview a look for a future version of the Swift. We should know much more about both of them when the Geneva show begins in March. SUZUKI UNVEILS iK-2 AND iM-4 CONCEPT MODELS AT THE 85TH GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 06/02/15 Suzuki Motor Corporation will display two world-premiere concept models at the 85th Geneva Motor Show next month. iK-2 The iK-2 is an ideal compact sized car, developed with an innovative theme of "Harmonised Force". By combining all of the key elements expected in a car of this size the new model raises compact car values to the limit. iM-4 The iM-4 is an iconic mini 4x4 developed with a concept theme of "Shape the Inspiration". It is an all-new proposal from Suzuki, packed with its compact 4x4 DNA and new technologies as well as distinctive styling that will give real inspiration to drivers. Detailed information will be disclosed at the Suzuki press conference, scheduled on Tuesday, 3rd March 2015 at 11:15 am , On stand 4251, in hall 4 A special website is available on http://www.globalsuzuki.com/geneva2015/