A Historical Perspective on Automotive Noise Control

The character and level of noise in a vehicle has changed significantly from the 1970s to today. In the 1970s the challenge was to permit communication from the front seat to the rear at highway speeds. In the last decade, the challenge has grown to provide a vehicle that provides the right "type" of sound while isolating the occupants from disturbing exterior noise. This may involve adding engine noise simulation and sculpting the interior sound to meet customer expectations. More recently, the challenge has been to modify noise controls for extreme light weighting exercises and electric vehicles. In addition, electric vehicles present a different sound environment and the challenge of determining what an EV should sound like. This paper will attempt to discuss these challenges and talk about the future of vehicle interior noise.