When we found out the 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost pumps "augmented engine noise" into the cabin via speakers, many of us cried 'heresy.' But now that I've experienced the same in the 2015 Ford F-150 EcoBoost without realizing it, I'm starting to think it might not be such a big deal.
Road & Track has just reported that "under hard acceleration, the speakers play a V8 soundtrack over what little you hear of the turbocharged 2.7- and 3.5-liter EcoBoost sixes" in the upper-trim (Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum) 2015 Ford F-150s.
I just drove one of those trucks. And maybe it's because I spent the whole day driving with XM's Y2Kountry on blast, the window down, and Doug DeMuro rambling incessantly about the erotic appeal of turn signal stalks but the engine didn't sound noticeably "fake" to me.
(Yes, we tried "hard acceleration" and yes there were actually some quiet moments in the cabin.)
I don't like the idea of a fake engine noise at all, but since I honestly didn't realize this truck's sound was augmented I can't really say I'm offended by it.
Unlike the 2015 Lexus NX, which has an "Active Sound Control" that's really great if you want a ceaseless fart-in-the-shower sound to accompany your drive. Also unlike the Lexus, Ford is trying to be all sneaky about what they call "order content" so there's no knob to dial it up or down.
Image: Andrew P. Collins